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Social  Activities  for  Men  and  Boys 


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SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

FOR 

MEN   AND    BOYS 


Art 


ALBERT    M.   CHESLEY 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
Washington,  D.  C. 


ASSOCIATION  PRESS 

New  York:  124  East  28th  Street 
London  :  47  Paternoster  Row,  E.  C. 

1913 


Copyright,  1910,  by 

The  International  Committee  of  Young  Men's 

Christian  Associations 


Contents 


PAGE 

Preface vi 

Introduction xiii 

Bibliography xiv 

Social  Features 1 

Receptions 1 

Banquets  and  Dinners ,  31 

For  Non-members 35 

Indoor  Games  and  Stunts 41 

Forfeits 67 

Amateur  Entertainments 69 

Plays 94 

Holidays 97 

Departmental  Specialties 115 

Physical 115 

Educational 123 

Bible  Study 131 

Songs  and  Yells 145 

Association  Clubs 165 

Camps  and  Outings 225 

Indians  and  Scouts 261 

Miscellaneous 283 

Alphabetical  Index 293 

Classified  Index 298 


Quotations  from  Amos  R.  Wells 


What  is  it  to  be  social?  It  is  to  appreciate  the  meaning  of  life.  It 
is  to  realize  that  we  are  set  here  in  this  world,  not  for  houses,  lands, 
gold,   silks,  praise,   authority,   fame,  but  for  character. 

You  may  make  a  great  stir  about  socials  in  your  Association,  but 
unless  the  warm  heart  of  Christ  is  in  them,  your  socials  will  be  more 
like  the  water  of  Labrador  than  the  water  of  life. 

Unless,  to  win  men  to  the  Master,  you  are  willing  at  least  to  try  to 
forget  self,  to  lose  self-consciousness  in  service,   you   cannot   be  social. 

Sociability  does  not  consist  in  forms  and  trappings,  but  in  the  spirit. 
Forget    yourself;    remember    Christ;    seek    to    win    souls    for   him. 

The  test  of  a  social  committee  comes,  not  in  the  social,  but  the  day 
after;  not  in  the  Sunday  meeting  to  which  you  may  have  welcomed  the 
stranger  heartily,  but  on  the  street  and  in  the  cars   Monday  morning. 

Oh,  we  need  to  learn  how  to  smile, — not  on  our  lovers,  our  friends, 
the  dear  ones  in  our  homes, — we  know  that  already;  but  on  the  peevish, 
the  cross,  the  sullen,  the  ugly. 

We  need  to  learn  how  to  talk, — not  with  the  friendly,  the  well- 
informed,  the  responsive, — we  know  that  already;  but  with  the  stupid, 
the  rude,  the  uncultured  and  coarse. 

We  need  to  learn  how  to  shake  hands, — not  with  soft  hands,  and 
white  hands,  and  warm  hands,  and  strong  hands, — we  know  that 
already;  but  with  soiled  hands,  and  cold  hands,  and  hard  hands,  and 
flabby  hands. 

We  do  not  pray  half  enough  over  our  socials,  either  while  we  are 
planning  them  or  while  we  are   carrying  them   out. 

To  converse  requires  sympathy  more  than  anything  else.  True  con- 
versation takes  us  out  of  ourselves,  immensely  widens  our  experiences, 
deepens  our  knowledge,  and  adds  to  our  lives  the  lives  of  those  we 
meet. 

Social — to  save!  To  save  from  what?  Well,  from  loneliness,  for  one 
thing. 

Social — to  save  from  discontent.  Social — to  save  from  uselessness. 
Take  the  awkward  boobies  and  transform  them  into  wide-awake  gentle- 
men.    Develop   latent  talent  and  energies. 

Social — to  save  from  gloom.  Ah,  who  has  greater  need  of  our 
cheery  brotherhood  than  the  depressed  young  people,  the  discouraged, 
those  whose  tempers  have  become  soured? 


Preface 


Spiritual  sociability  is  a  sure  succe3s.  It  is  bounded  by  neither 
space  nor  time.  In  every  man,  in  every  place,  in  every  undertaking, 
it  is   splendidly   supreme. — W.    B.    Abbott. 

In  arranging  the  material  for  this  book  the  writer 
has  felt  the  above  so  strongly  that  it  has  been  difficult 
to  tell  what  to  exclude.  Everything  seems  to  depend 
upon  the  social  element. 

The  educational  department  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  is  not  commonly  supposed  to 
be  built  around  sociability.  Impressions  of  concentra- 
tion, "grind,"  the  knitted  brow,  etc.,  immediately  asso- 
ciate themselves  with  the  educational  department  or 
the  institute.  Yet  one  of  the  most  successful  depart- 
ments of  education  in  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Associations  of  North  America  has  been  developed 
through  the  social  spirit.  Fellowship,  comradery,  en- 
thusiasm, and  downright  affection  are  so  intermingled 
with  drudgery  that  drudgery  is  swallowed  up,  obliter- 
ated, forgotten.  Men  and  boys  are  drawn  and  held. 
They  learn  to  love  the  men  who  teach,  and  later  to  love 
the  Christ  within  the  teacher.  So  everything  is,  or 
should  be,  social. 

This  book  is  a  collection  of  suggestions,  aimed  to 
make  easier  the  great  work  of  spreading  Christ's  joy 
among  men.  A  great  many  games  are  contained 
herein.  They  are  intended  absolutely  as  a  means  to 
an  end.  It  should  be  an  established  principle  with  all ' 
to  use  these  activities  to  help  build  character. 

Several  books  have  been  written  on  principles  of 
social  zvork.  We  take  pleasure  in  presenting  some 
thoughts  from  these  writers.  The  numerous  quota- 
tions which  are  found  at  the  tops  of  the  pages  through- 
out the  book  are  intended  not  only  to  inspire  social 
spirit,  but  may  be  used  on  programs,  menus,  or  place- 
cards  at  banquets. 

In  a  little  book  called  "The  Social  Element,"  by  the 
late  Edwin  F.  See,  general  secretary  of  the  Brooklyn 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  the  writer  lays 
down  the  following  principal  propositions : 


viii  PREFACE 

First,  As  a  sociological  fact,  we  live  as  socii  and  not  as  indi- 
viduals. 

Second,  As  a  religious  fact,  Christ  came  to  influence  and 
modify  these  social  relationships. 

Third,  The  group  spirit  is  in  operation  among  young  men 
outside  and  inside  the  Association,  and  some  of  our  secre- 
taries are  successfully  availing  themselves  of  it  in  the  develop- 
ment of  Association  life. 

Fourth,  This  spirit  may  be  employed  in  redeeming  the 
Association  from  the  institutionalism  which  has  so  largely 
taken  possession  of  it,  and  may  lead  to  a  real  enjoyment  of 
the  Association  by  the  membership. 

Fifth,  Eatinj  and  drinking  are  necessary  social  agencies  in 
the  work  of  the  Association. 

Sixth,  The  observance  of  the  group  principle  may  lead  to 
further  efforts  in  behalf  of  workingmen. 

Seventh,  Some  of  the  most  effective  religious  work  may  be 
done  in  a  social  environment. 

Eighth,  The  personal  work  of  the  Association  should  be,  as 
far  as  possible,  in  the  hands  of  social  leaders. 

Ninth,  Men,  not  functions,  should  be  the  objective  of  our 
social  activities.  Men  should  be  carried  through  the  Associa- 
tion in  adherence  to  one  another,  as  well  as  in  adherence  to 
lines  of  work. 

Tenth,  The  secretary  may  largely  multiply  his  influence  by 
seeking  to  develop  Christian  manhood  in  the  leaders  of  groups 
within  the  Association.  This  should  be  done  on  the  basis  of 
personal  friendship. 

That  sterling  leader  of  social  activity  in  the  Christian 
Endeavor  Society,  Amos  R.  Wells,  says  in  his  book 
that  you  cannot  be  social  unless  you  are  social  to  save. 
That  is  putting  the  matter  very  strongly.  It  practi- 
cally says  that  gatherings  of  boys  and  men  just  for 
fun  are  not  truly  social,  no  matter  how  much  fun  they 
have,  unless  underneath  the  fun  there  is  a  rock  founda- 
tion of  character  building.  Mr.  Wells  would  have 
every  social  planned  with  this  in  view,  and  he  states 
very  frankly  that  unless  workers  are  willing  to  "forget 
self,  to  lose  self-consciousness  in  service,"  they  cannot 
be  social. 

The  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Press  has  a  pamphlet  called  "Social 
Work,"  written  by  Walter  M.  Wood,  George  L.  Leon- 
ard and  George  A.  Warburton.  The  following  from 
Mr.  Wood's  article  deals  with  the  need  of  fellowship 
of  man  with  man : 


PREFACE  ix 

An  aggregation  of  over-advertised  conveniences,  shabbily 
cared  for  by  attendants  and  sold  to  men  at  half-price  under 
the  guise  of  membership,  does  not  constitute  a  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association ;  neither  do  fine  equipment,  good  mainte- 
nance, polite  attendants  and  low  cost  make,  of  themselves,  an 
Association  true  to  the  spirit  of  its  name. 

There  should  permeate  the  Association  the  happy,  vigorous, 
and  helpful  personality  that  attracts,  stimulates,  and  inspires. 
The  leadership  of  the  physical  director  is  better  than  the 
dumb-bell ;  the  sympathetic  heart-throb  of  the  teacher  is  better 
than  the  lesson  ;  the  cordial  greeting  of  the  reception  commit- 
teeman is  better  than  the  most  improved  doorman  or  hat- 
rack.  A  man's  body  may  cry  out  for  conveniences,  but  his 
heart  cries  out  for  fellowship  ;  let  him  have  the  first,  if  pos- 
sible, but  do  not  deny  him  the  latter. 

Mr.  Wood  also  deals  with  the  subject  of  what  re- 
ception committeemen  should  be  like,  and  gives  some 
straightforward  suggestions  as  to  the  equipment  of 
good  social  committeemen.  They  should  have  good 
manners ;  "the  slap  on  the  back,  the  punch  in  the  ribs, 
and  the  promiscuous  'glad  hand/  are  usually  abomina- 
tions." 

They  should  also  have  information.  The  secretary 
must  see  that  his  committeemen  are  trained  and  well 
informed  as  to  the  institution.  They  should  have 
conveniences  for  work — desks,  correspondence  facili- 
ties, record  blanks,  personal  cards — tools  for  service. 

Mr.  Wood  recommends  a  time  schedule,  that  men 
may  do  their  share  of  service.  Things  committeemen 
should  do : 

"Meet  men  at  the  door,  answer  inquiries,  introduce  men  to 
secretaries  and  other  officers,  show  men  through  the  building, 
distribute  printed  matter,  welcome  and  follow  up  new  members, 
discover  and  bring  together  men  of  like  inclinations,  invite 
men  to  the  building,  report  concerning  each  man  served, 
gather  criticisms  and  suggestions  and  report  to  the  secretary." 

Mr.  Leonard  deals  with  the  "Relation  of  the  Recep- 
tion Committee  to  Strangers."  He  says  that  it  should 
be  hospitable,  intelligent,  helpful,  thoughtful,  continu- 
ous, confidential  and  full  of  love : 

"I  can  never  forget  a  scene  once  witnessed  in  the  reception 
room  of  the  Twenty-third  Street  building.  New  York  City. 
The  secretary  of  the  branch  had  resigned  and  left  the  city 


x  PREFACE 

before  his  successor  was  appointed.  During  this  time  the 
general  secretary  of  the  New  York  City  Association  made  his 
headquarters  at  the  Twenty-third  Street  building,  and  took 
up  much  active  work  on  the  floor  of  the  reception  room. 
The  first  evening  after  the  departure  of  the  former  secretary 
1  stood  in  the  room  in  conversation  with  Mr.  McBurney,  when 
a  poor  young  man  entered  the  door.  Mr.  McBurney  was  in 
an  instant  across  the  room,  at  his  side,  and  had  him  by  the 
hand  before  many  a  man  would  have  started  from  his  place. 
This  love  for_  young  men  was  the  secret  of  his  power  and 
influence.  This  should  be  our  motive  whenever  we  are  on 
duty,  and  if  that  motive  fully  controlled  us  we  would  broaden 
unconsciously  the  sphere  of  our  work  and  render  some  of  our 
best  service  outside  the  rooms  in  greeting  strangers  on  the 
street,  or  as  opportunity  offered,  and  extending  to' them  the 
hospitality  and  helpful  association  of  the  rooms." 

The  theme  of  Mr.  Warburton's  plea  is  that  "Nothing 
lives  to  itself.  The  insects  move  in  swarms,  the  birds 
of  the  air  go  in  flocks,  and  the  beasts  of  the  field 
fraternize."  Since  this  is  so,  and  men  and  boys  will 
gather  socially,  and  too  often  improperly,  as  in  the 
saloon,  the  cheap  club,  etc.,  special  pains  must  be  used 
to  make  features  particularly  attractive. 

In  closing  Mr.  Warburton  attempts  to  sketch  an 
ideal  social  life,  and  give  a  hint  or  two  as  to  how  it 
may  be  kept  up : 

"To  begin  with,  the  building  must  open  well.  Entering,  you 
are  not  in  a  passage-way,  but  in  a  room  with  rather  low  walls 
and  with  a  fireplace  at  one  end.  The  prevailing  colors  are 
warm  and  rich,  and  there  are  no  signs  except  a  bulletin  board. 
You  may  not  see  'Welcome'  on  the  wall,  but  your  eye  reads 
it  in  the  face  and  manner  of  whoever  is  in  charge.  The  secre- 
tary's desk  is  at  one  side,  and  behind  it  a  door  leading  to  the 
directors'  room.  There  is  no  bank  furniture  in  sight,  and  you 
are  glad  of  that,  especially  if  you  have  worked  late  and  are 
trying  to  balance  your  accounts  downtown.  There  are  plenty 
of  young  men  standing  about  who  seem  to  be  enjoying  them- 
selves, and  some  of  them  are  actually  leaning  over  the  secre- 
tary's desk  and  he  does  not  seem  to  mind  it.  In  fact,  you 
are  not  long  in  finding  that  he  is  the  center  of  the  social  group, 
for  no  sooner  is  your  name  known  than  you  are  taken  and 
introduced  to  him.  _  His  manner  is  frank  and  kindly ;  the  grip 
of  his  hand  is  cordial,  but  it  does  not  injure  your  ringers;  his 
conversation  is  general,  and  you  find  that  he  knows  some  of 
your  acquaintances,  and  that  the  things  in  which  you  are 
interested  are  not  without  interest  to  him.  He  says  nothing 
about  religious  subjects,  and  at  this  you  may  be  surprised,  yet 


PREFACE  xi 

you  think  of  him  as  a  Christian  man  oftener  than  as  an 
official  of  an  organization.  Passing  on,  you  are  shown  the 
parlor,  where  various  games  are  in  use,  just  as  they  would  be 
in  a  well-conducted  home.  Pictures  adorn  the  walls  and 
everywhere  are  signs  of  good  taste.  The  men  are  not  all 
speaking  in  whispers  as  though  they  were  attending  a  funeral, 
yet  there  is  an  absence  of  boisterousness.  The  ceilings  are 
low  and  the  rooms  well-lighted.  Things  look  as  though  they 
had  been  made  to  use.  The  impression  produced  by  your 
first  step  into  the  place  is  confirmed  as  you  move  about. 
Everything  seems  so  open.  One  room  opens  into  another ; 
fireplaces  blaze  with  a  cheerful  flame ;  the  men  are  like  the 
place,  open-faced  and  open-hearted.  'Ample  room  and  verge 
enough.'  When  the  time  comes  you  are  taken  into  the  enter- 
tainment hall  to  enjoy  a  concert.  The  object  of  the  concert 
is  evidently  not  to  make  money  but  to  educate  and  refine  the 
tastes  and  furnish  elevating  entertainment.  You  go  out  to 
return  as  often  as  you  may.  You  become  one  of  the  group 
who  wait  to  welcome,  and  the  kindly  greeting  of  one  night 
is    repeated   to   thousands. 

"The  things  which  hinder  sociability  are  care,  pride,  conceit, 
shallowness,  hypocrisy,  hatred. 

"The  things  which  foster  and  develop  it  are  genuineness, 
sympathy,  tact,  conversation,  heartiness,  deference,  faith,  hope 
and,  crowning  all,  love.  In  social  as  in  religious  life  'Love  is 
the  fulfilling  of  the  law.' " 

We  are  inclined  to  agree  with  Dr.  George  J.  Fisher, 
in  his  book  on  "The  Social  Spirit,"  that  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  has  been  merely  playing 
at  social  work.  "Great  advances  have  been  made  in 
the  organization  and  development  of  the  physical,  reli- 
gious and  educational  departments,  but  few  new  prin- 
ciples have  been  originated  with  reference  to  a  logical 
plan  of  social  work,  in  accordance  with  which  the 
membership  would  be  really  sociable,  and  the  brother- 
hood spirit  would  predominate." 

The  following  is  suggested  as  a  logical  plan  to  follow 
in  creating  a  social  spirit: 

First.  The  culture  of  the  senses — Taste:  "The 
first  laugh  was  at  the  sight  of  a  good  meal."  Smell: 
Have  the  buildings  well-ventilated,  no  stuffy  odors 
from  furniture,  locker  rooms,  etc.  Sight:  Restful 
colors,  pleasing  combinations  of  color,  excellent  pic- 
tures. "If  the  eye  be  light,  the  whole  body  is  light." 
Hearing:    Ragtime  will  often  produce  coarse  singing 


xii  PREFACE 

and  shuffling  of  feet.  A  higher  type  of  music  will 
elevate.  Cultivate  glee,  orchestra  and  mandolin  clubs. 
Think  of  the  power  of  national  airs  to  thrill  the  heart. 
Touch:  Wet  and  damp  hands  cause  repugnance. 

Second.  The  formation  of  natural  groups.  Dr. 
Fisher  deals  with  a  great  truth  when  he  urges  the 
natural  grouping  of  men  and  boys  to  do  hard  work. 
The  best  kind  of  sociability. 

Third.  Prayer  is  social.  United  prayer  brings  the 
promise  of  His  presence.  Bands  of  men  grouped  for 
prayer  are  a  great  social  power. 

Fourth.  Suggestion.  Use  the  things  occurring 
daily  and  turn  them  into  sociability.  One  of  the  men 
is  to  be  married.  Have  a  surprise  presentation  on  the 
gymnasium  floor.  Have  some  pranks,  laughter  and 
good  will.  It  is  talked  of  for  several  days  and  sug- 
gests more. 

Fifth.  The  Emotional.  Stir  the  emotions  through 
those  forms  of  social  entertainment  which  make  one 
think  of  home,  of  country,  and  of  brotherhood. 
Variety.  Not  too  long  concentration.  Remember  the 
small  groups  that  are  inevitable.  They  must  not  be 
antagonized,  but  converted  or  overwhelmed  by  a  popu- 
lar sentiment  in  the  opposite  direction.  Expectation. 
Make  your  advertisements  positive.  "We  are  all 
happy  here,"  is  better  than  "Don't  look  grouchy." 

It  is  very  evident  that  sociability  is  older  than  the 
race  itself,  going  back  through  the  ages  to  the  great 
heart  of  God  Himself.  True  sociability  is  born  of 
love,  the  beginning  and  the  essence  of  the  Creator's 
plan.     "Love  never  faileth  ....  seeketh  not  its  own." 

It  is  a  law  of  perfect  unselfishness.  With  this  idea 
caught  and  retained  in  the  mind,  one  absolutely  forgets 
self  in  loving  service  for  his  fellows.  There  is  no  note 
of  sadness  in  it,  but  only  one  of  joy  in  the  privilege  of 
helping  in  the  great  plan  of  bringing  about  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  on  earth.  "Spiritual  sociability  is  a 
sure  success." 

This  book  is  prepared  as  a  thesis  in  connection  with  special  graduate 
work  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  Training  School,  Spring- 
field,   Mass. 


Introduction 


Sociability  is  a  condition  not  an  act.  It  may  be 
regarded  as  the  color  or  the  temperature  of  personal 
contacts.  The  so-called  social  features  are  of  value 
in  proportion  as  they  yield  a  forgetfulness  of  self  in 
a  more  lively  attention  to  the  thought  and  actions  of 
others  and  in  a  mutual  sharing  of  pain  or  pleasure. 

The  splendid  collection  of  things  that  have  worked 
contained  in  this  volume  offers  a  wide  range  of  sug- 
gestions with  enough  of  detail  to  facilitate  the  distri- 
bution of  responsibility  among  workers  and  with 
enough  of  cue  to  inspire  further  invention  of  social 
machinery. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  all  social  devices  are 
but  the  clothing  of,  and  the  medium  in  which  moves, 
the  personal  factor.  The  most  important  question  in 
connection  with  any  social  event  is  as  to  the  kind  and 
amount  of  personal  influence  liberated  and  the  degree 
to  which  receptiveness  of  that  influence  is  furthered. 

From  a  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  stand- 
point, five  tests  may  wisely  be  applied  to  any  con- 
templated social  event : 

1.  Will  it  attract  men  and  boys  into  the  Association  fellow- 
ship? 

2.  Will  it  aid  the  Association  to  assimilate  its  members  into 
its  varied  activities? 

3.  Will  it  socialize  the  members  by  bringing  different  indi- 
viduals and  groups  into  such  contacts  as  will  increase  their 
interest  in  each  other,  reducing  their  prejudices  and  cul- 
tivating their  sympathies? 

4.  Will  it  recreate  or  relieve  from  the  tedium  and  enervating 
strain  of  one's  usual  line  of  thought  and  action? 

5.  Will  it  culture  or  grow  the  finer  sensibilities  and  appre- 
ciations? 

When  judged  by  such  tests  it  is  believed  that  the 
suggestions  in  the  following  pages  will  show  many 
points  of  strength. 

Walter  M.  Wood. 


Note 

It  has  been  impossible  to  satisfactorily  classify  this 
book;  many  of  the  paragraphs  might  well  appear 
under  several  different  headings,  and  the  final  placing 
has  been  somewhat  arbitrary.  There  has  been  no 
attempt  to  discriminate  between  men  and  boys  in  the 
general  divisions,  as  very  often  a  feature  would  fit 
either.  It  is  left  to  the  one  using  the  book  to  select 
and  adapt  to  his  peculiar  needs  anything  he  may  find 
that  appeals  to  him,  and  the  indexes  will  aid  in  locating 
any  desired  item. 


Acknowledgment  and  Bibliography 

The  author  is  indebted  not  only  to  the  following 
publications  for  valuable  assistance,  but  also  to  the 
scores  of  Association  secretaries  who  have  taken  time 
and  thought  to  contribute  their  best  social  events  for 
this  book. 

"The  Social  Element,"  Edwin  F.  See,  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Press. 

"Social  to  Save,"  Amos  R.  Wells,  United  Society  of  Christian 
Endeavor. 

"Eighty  Pleasant  Evenings,"  United  Society  of  Christian 
Endeavor. 

"Social  Evenings,"  United  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor. 

"Social  Work  in  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association," 
Walter  M.  Wood,  George  L.  Leonard,  George  A.  War- 
burton,  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Press. 

"The  Social  Spirit,"  Dr.  George  J.  Fisher,  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Press. 

"Indoor  and  Outdoor  Gymnastic  Games,"  Albert  M.  Chesley, 
Spalding's  Athletic  Library. 

"Games  for  the  Playground,  Home,  School  and  Gymnasium," 
Jessie  H.  Bancroft,  The  Macmillan  Co. 

Association  Boys,  New  York. 

Association  Men,  New  York. 

PJiysical  Training,  New  York. 

Official  Handbook,  Boy  Scouts  of  America,  New  York. 


Key  to  Classified  Index 


Besides  a  full  Alphabetical  index   the  book  is  subindexed 
under  the  following  classification : 

Outings. 


Banquets  and  Dinners. 

Boys. 

Camps  and  Camping. 

Clubs  for  Boys. 

Committees. 

Dramatics. 

Educational. 

Entertainments. 

General  Social  Events. 

High  School  and  College. 

Holidays. 

Industrial — Men  and  Boys. 

Members  and  Non-members 

Musical. 


Parlor  Tricks. 

Patriotic. 

Physical. 

Railroad  Men. 

Receptions. 

Religious. 

Socials  for  less  than  Twenty. 

Socials  for  more  than  Twenty. 

Socials  including  Ladies. 

Songs  and  Yells. 

Summer  and  Outdoor  Affairs. 

Y.  P.  S.  and  Y.  W.  C.  A. 


jBHKH^$9|  MM^ 

^SBBsia 

^J^SffJMIM*-a^ltmxrtt 

SOCIAL  FEATURES 


Receptions  and  Socials 

1.     PRESIDENT'S  RECEPTION 

General  secretaries  will  welcome  the  following  plan 
to  make  the  new  member  an  intelligent,  enthusiastic 
Association  man.  In  the  large  cities  it  is  astounding 
how  little  the  member  knows  of  the  ideals  and  actual 
operations  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 
In  most  places  no  intelligent  effort  is  made  to  inform 
him.  Result:  he  goes  about  town  a  user  of  one  of 
the  privileges — gymnasium  or  educational;  he  is  not 
a  part  of  the  great  Christian  brotherhood.  Upon  mak- 
ing him  such  depends  the  future  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association.     Here's  a  way : 

Hold  at  a  regular  time  (every  two  weeks  if  pos- 
sible), and  in  the  same  room  (not  too  large)  a  Recep- 
tion to  New  Members.  Men,  on  applying  for  member- 
ship, are  given  receipts  for  dues,  and  are  told  that  their 
tickets  will  be  issued  at  the  reception.  It  should  be 
carefully  and  kindly  explained  to  them  that  the  presi- 
dent and  general  secretary  desire  to  meet  them,  and 
they  will,  of  course,  welcome  an  opportunity  to  witness 
a  few  stereopticon  pictures  illustrating  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
work.  A  card,  granting  the  use  of  the  privileges  until 
the  time  of  the  reception  which  the  member  can  attend, 
may  be  issued.     It  may  read  as  follows  : 

Young   Men's    Christian   Association,   Blanktown,   N.   Y. 

This  card  grants  the  use  of  the  (desired)  privileges  to 
(name  of  new  member)  until  (date  of  reception).  The 
president  and  general  secretary  will  be  pleased  to  meet  you 
socially  on  the  above  date  in  the  Sir  George  Williams  Room 
at  eight  o'clock.  Stereopticon,  music  and  light  refreshments. 
You  will  receive  your  membership  ticket  at  the  reception. 


2  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Do  not  try  to  get  up  the  kind  of  social  that  best  pleases  you,  but 
the   kind   that  best  pleases   others. — Amos   R.   Wells. 

Tickets  will  have  to  be  issued  to  members  who,  for 
one  reason  or  another,  may  be  absolutely  unable  to 
attend  such  a  function,  but  they  should  be  handed,  and 
urged  to  read,  an  interesting  statement  (well  illus- 
trated) of  the  work  of  the  local  and  world-wide  Asso- 
ciation. 

Present :  new  members,  president  or  vice-president, 
general  secretary,  and  as  many  representatives  of  the 
various  departments  (both  employees  and  committee- 
men) as  possible. 

Program 

1.  Song,  "The  Son  of  God  Goes  Forth  to  War." 

The  Son  of  God  goes  forth  to  war, 

A  kingly  crown  to  gain ; 
His  blood-red  banner  streams  afar: 

Who  follows  in  His  train? 
Who   best   can   drink   his   cup   of  woe, 

And  triumph  over  pain, 
Who  patient  bears  his  cross  below — 

He    follows   in   His  train. 

A  glorious  band  the  chosen  few, 

On  whom  the  Spirit  came; 
Twelve   valiant    saints,   their   hope   they   knew, 

And  mocked  the  cross  and  flame. 
They   climbed  the   dizzy   steep  to  heav'n 

Thro'  peril,  toil  and  pain. 
O  God !  to  us  may  grace  be  giv'n 

To   follow   in  their  train ! 

2.  Responsive  Reading    (expressing  Association  ideals). 

President.     (1)   The    Lord    reigneth;     let    the    earth 

rejoice. 
Audience.     (2)  /  will  bless  the  Lord  at  all  times,  His 

praise  shall  continually  be  in  my  mouth. 
President.     (3)  Thus   saith  the  Lord   God,   Behold  I 

lay  in  Zion  for  a  foundation  a  stone,  a  tried  stone, 

a  precious  corner  stone,  a  sure  foundation. 
Audience.     (4)   Other  foundation  can  no  man  lay  than 

that  is  laid,  which  is  Jesus  Christ. 
President.     (5)  Jesus  increased  in  wisdom  and  stature 

and  in  favor  with  God  and  man. 


RECEPTIONS  AND  SOCIALS  3 

A  merry  heart  goes  all  the  day, 
Your  sad  tires  in  a  mile-a. — Shakespeare. 

Audience.     (6)   Study  to  show  thyself  approved  unto 

God,  a  -workman  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed. 
President.     (7)   Wherewithal     shall     a     young     man 

cleanse  his  ways? 
Audience.     (8)  By   taking   heed   thereto   according    to 

thy  word. 
President.     (9)   I  beseech  you  that  ye  walk  worthy  of 

the  vocation  wherewith  ye  are  called. 
Audience.     (10)    Till  we  all  come  in  the  unity  of  the 

faith,  and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God, 

unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature 

of  the  fullness  of  Christ. 
President.     (11)   If  we  walk  in  the  light  as  he   is  in 

the  light,  we  have  fellowship  one  with  another. 
All.     (12)  That  they  all  may  be  one;  as  thou,  Father, 

art  in  me,  and  I  in  thee,  that  they  also  may  be  one 

in  us,  that  the  world  may  believe  that  thou  hast 

sent  me. 

3.  Musical   Selection. 

4.  The  World  Basis  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 

tion : 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  seeks  to 
unite  those  young  men  who,  regarding  Jesus  Christ  as 
their  God  and  Saviour  according  to  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
desire  to  be  His  disciples  in  their  doctrine  and  in  their 
life,  and  to  associate  their  efforts  for  the  extension  of 
His  Kingdom  among  young  men. 

5.  Stereopticon,    showing   views    of   the    Association    in   all 

lands. 

6.  Song,  "America." 

Our  Fathers'  God  to  Thee, 
Author  of  liberty, 

To  Thee  we  sing; 
Long    may    our    land    be    bright 
With  freedom's  holy  light ; 
Protect  us  by  Thy  might, 

Great  God,  our  King. 

7.  Prayer  by  Representative  of  Religious  Work. 

8.  President's  Address  of  Welcome. 

9.  Introduction    of    new    members.     (If    the    suggestion    is 

tactfully  made,  each  will  rise  and  introduce  himself.) 


4  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Let  not  the  social  committee  forever  push  forward  the  same  merry- 
makers. Try  to  find  fresh  talent.  Be  a  committee  of  Columbuses. — 
Amos   R.   Wells. 

10.  Question  Box. 

11.  Song,  "Onward,  Christian  Soldiers." 

Like  a  mighty  army 

Moves  the  Church  of  God: 
Brothers,  we  are  treading 

Where  the  saints  have  trod; 
We  are  not  divided, 

All  one  body  we, 
One  in  hope  and  doctrine, 

One  in  charity. 

Onward  then,  ye  faithful, 

Join  our  happy  throng, 
Blend  with  ours  your  voices 

In  the  triumph  song : 
Glory,  praise   and  honor, 

Unto  Christ  the  King: 
This  thro'  countless  ages, 

Men  and  angels  sing. 

Chorus:  Onward,  Christian  soldiers! 
Marching  as  to  war, 
With  the  cross  of  Jesus 
Going  on  before. 

12.  Refreshments.     Workers   should   be   careful    to   find  out 

and  remember  the  name,  occupation  and  church  prefer- 
ence of  each  new  member  and  in  what  he  is  most 
interested. 


2.     HIGH  SCHOOL  RECEPTION 

PROGRAM. 

Pianists — John  Scott,  Ivan  Kauffman. 
Cornetist — Signor  Visconsi. 
Yell  Leader — Max  Ades. 

Lower   Hall. 

I.     Everybody  gets  acquainted  but (?) 

"Cheer  up,  the  worst  is  yet  to  come." 
II.     "Pentathlon"  Contests. 

These    contests    are    exceedingly    serious,    therefore 
refrain  from  all  levitv. 


RECEPTIONS  AND  SOCIALS  5 

Happiness  has  been  defined  as  having  things;  better,  as  having  what 
you  want;  better  still,  as  being  able  to  do  without  what  you  want. — 
Rollins. 

1.     Somewhat  Elephantine. 

J.   Schoonover,   '10  R.  Larr,  '11 

A.  Merrill,  '12  O.    McAfee,   '13 

First Second 


A  Boxer  Uprising — The  Shores  Twins. 
2.     Hitting  Hard  and  Furious. 

C.  Lyons,  '10  J.   Brophy,   Capt.,   '11 

C.  Brosius,  '12  W.  Crist,  '13 

First Second 


3.     "Pollv"  Contest. 

R.  Lammers,  '10  K.   Offut,  '11 

S.   Clark,   '12  C.  LaFlower,  '13 

First Second 


"Biscuit  Shoot."     O.  Tipton,  R.  Ogden. 
4.     Easter  Novelty. 

M.   Ades,    Capt.    '10.        E.  Kuhns,  '11 

I.    Miller,    Capt.,    '12        K.  Jones,  Capt,  '13 

First Second 


Mexicana-Americana.  R.  Burns,  H.  Tressell. 
5.     Italian  Ensemble. 

1910  1911 

1912  1913 

First Second 

Assembly  Room 

III.     Just  Among  Ourselves. 

1.  The  Faculty — Principal  C.  J.  Waites. 

2.  School  Athletics— Chal  Hamill  (Football  Coach). 

3.  Our  High  School  Girls — Theodore  Needles. 

4.  The  Student  Council — President  Nehf. 

5.  The  High   School   Spirit — H.   E.   Dodge    (Secretary 
Y.  M.  C.  A.). 

6.  Presentation  of  Prizes  and  "Loving  Cup" — George 
O.  Dix  (Treasurer  School  Board). 

7.  Refreshments. 

The  student  council,  which  had  the  reception  in 
charge,  selected  a  man  from  each  of  the  classes  for 
captain,  and  he  in  turn  chose  three  associates  to  repre- 
sent that  class  in  the  pentathlon  contest.  One  member 
of  the  student  council  was  master  of  ceremonies,  and 


6  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

There  is  an  emanation  from  the  heart  in  genuine  hospitality  which 
cannot  be  described — but  is  immediately  felt  and  puts  the  stranger  at 
his   ease. — Washington   Irving. 

as  each  contest  was  to  be  called  for  the  captain  chose 
his  men,  and  all  four  men  thus  chosen  would  come 
down  to  the  platform  before  the  contest  was  an- 
nounced. In  this  way  all  possibility  of  the  boys  "tur- 
keying"  was  practically  eliminated. 

The  contest  listed  as  "Somewhat  Elephantine"  con- 
sisted of  placing  eight  peanuts  in  a  row,  three  feet 
apart.  The  test  was  to  carry  them  one  at  a  time  on 
a  knife  blade  and  deposit  them  in  a  cup.  The  winner 
received  five  points  and  the  second  man  three. 

The  "Boxer  Uprising"  consisted  of  two  of  the  fel- 
lows boxing  blindfolded. 

The  contest  listed  as  "Hitting  Hard  and  Furious" 
consisted  of  driving  a  dozen  nails  in  a  piece  of  hem- 
lock four  by  four  and  about  two  feet  long.  The  fellow 
who  drove  all  the  nails  in  first,  with  every  one  straight, 
was  the  winner. 

The  one  listed  "Polly  Contest"  consisted  of  each 
fellow  eating  two  crackers,  and  the  one  who  could 
whistle  in  the  natural  way  first  after  eating  the  crack- 
ers was  the  winner. 

The  "Biscuit  Shoot"  was  contested  by  two  fellows 
standing  in  a  barrel,  equipped  with  a  pair  of  boxing 
gloves.  They  kept  at  the  contest  until  one  of  the  bar- 
rels was  shot  to  pieces. 

The  "Easter  Novelties"  consisted  in  tying  pieces  of 
string  seven  feet  long  to  hard-boiled  eggs  with  the 
shells  off.  Each  fellow  placed  the  end  of  his  string  in 
his  mouth  and  began  chewing  it,  which,  of  course, 
brought  him  closer  and  closer  to  the  egg  until  finally 
he  took  the  egg  in  his  mouth,  ate  it  and  then  pulled 
the  string  out.  He  was  not  allowed  to  touch  the  egg 
or  the  string  with  his  hands  until  he  drew  the  string 
from  his  mouth.  The  fellow  who  finished  first  was  the 
winner. 

The  "Mexicana  Americana"  consisted  in  tying  two 
towels  together  and  putting  them  over  two  fellows' 
necks,  and  then  on  their  hands  and  knees  they  tried 


RECEPTIONS  AND  SOCIALS  7 

Let  the  social  committee  get  others,  if  possible,  to  arrange  the  games 
and  other  entertainment;  at  any  rate,  leave  a  majority  of  your  number 
free  to  promote  the  general  zest  and  sociability. — Amos   R.   Wells. 

to  pull  each  other  over  the  floor.  Two  goals  were 
marked  the  same  as  in  football,  and  the  fellow  who 
pulled  his  opponent  across  the  line  was  the  winner. 

The  "Italian  Ensemble"  consisted  of  each  captain 
and  his  three  men  standing  together,  each  man  having 
a  banana.  At  a  given  signal  each  captain  ate  his 
banana  and  when  he  had  finished  the  fellow  next  to 
him  then  began  to  peel  and  eat  his,  and  so  on  down 
the  line. 

The  senior  class  won  the  contest  and  was  awarded 
the  ''loving  cup,"  which  consisted  of  the  largest  dish- 
pan  we  could  buy  in  the  city.  This  was  placed  in  a 
large  box  and  carried  on  the  stage  by  four  of  the 
largest  high  school  boys,  with  each  man  lifting  as  if 
the  box  weighed  a  ton.  The  cup  had  the  following 
engraving  in  black  paint,  "Presented  to  the  class  of 
1910  for  marked  ability  in  the  Pentathlon  Contest, 
September  17,  1909." — Tcrre  Haute,  hid. 

3.     AN  INTERNATIONAL  SOCIAL 

Collect  a  dozen  or  more  pictures  representing  noted 
buildings  or  characteristic  scenery  of  as  many  different 
countries.  Number  but  do  not  label  them.  Arrange 
them  about  the  room,  on  walls,  mantels,  etc.,  and 
provide  each  guest  with  a  program,  a  pencil,  and  a 
card  containing  all  the  numbers  on  the  pictures. 
Require  them  to  guess  from  what  nation  each  scene 
is  taken,  and  to  write  their  guesses  opposite  the  list  of 
numbers  on  the  cards. 

At  the  close  of  a  half  hour,  collect  the  cards ;  and, 
while  they  are  being  examined  by  the  committee,  pro- 
ceed with  the  musical  part  of  the  program.  This 
should  consist  entirely  of  national  airs,  played  as  a 
medley,  or  singly  with  variations ;  or  they  may  be  sung 
by  ladies  or  girls  dressed  in  appropriate  costume. 
Germany,  France,  Italy,  England,  Ireland,  Scotland, 
and  America  would  all  be  capable  of  bright  representa- 


RECEPTIONS  AND  SOCIALS  9 

Close  the  social  promptly,   and  when  people  would  like  to  have   more 
of  it. — Amos   R.  Wells. 

tion  in  song  and  dress.  "Hidden  Nations,"  or,  as  The 
Voice  gives  it,  "A  Tour  of  Nations,"  may  be  intro- 
duced. We  give  with  one  variation  the  list  published 
in  that  paper,  from  which  the  idea  will  be  readily  taken. 
The  game  may  be  conducted  orally  or  in  written  form. 
If  rewards  are  given,  in  this  or  the  former  contest,  they 
may  consist  of  small  flags,  or  of  other  patriotic 
emblems. 

A  Tour  of  Nations 

1.  Nation  from  which  we  start :     Germination. 

2.  Actors'  nation :     Impersonation. 

3.  Nation  for  criminals :     Condemnation. 

4.  Murderers'  nation :     Assassination. 

5.  Nation  for  astonished  people  :     Consternation. 

6.  Nation  for  pests :     Extermination. 

7.  Nation  for  rulers :     Domination. 

8.  Nation  for  their  subjects:     Subordination. 

9.  Nation  provoking  disapproval :    Abomination. 

10.  Teachers'  nation :     Explanation. 

11.  Their  pupils'  nation:     Examination. 

12.  The  rebels'  nation  :     Alienation. 

13.  Nation  for  labor  unions :     Combination. 

14.  Nation  for  unwilling  people  :     Declination. 

15.  Nation  for  people  in  danger  of  smallpox :     Vaccination. 

16.  Soothsayers'  nation :     Divination. 

17.  A  floral  nation :     Carnation. 

18.  A  politician's  nation :     Nomination. 

19.  Nation  for  contagious  disease :     Contamination. 

20.  Nation  for  seed-sowers :     Dissemination. 

21.  Nation  for  deer  :     Stagnation. 

22.  Nation  for  the  resolute  :     Determination. 

23.  Nation  for  choir  boys  :     Intonation. 

24.  Nation  for  new  kings  :     Coronation. 

25.  Nation  for  the  deluded :     Hallucination. 

26.  The  poets'  nation :     Imagination. 

27.  Nation  for  travelers :     Destination. 

28.  Nation  for  those  whose  official  business  is  ended :     Resig- 

nation. 

29.  Nation  for  benevolent  people  :     Donation. 

30.  A  charming  nation :     Fascination. 

31.  A  nation  of  sects:     Denomination. 

32.  The  critics'  nation :     Discrimination. 

33.  The  nation  at  the  climax  :     Culmination. 

34.  The  nation  we  have  now  reached  :    Termination. 


10  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

One  man  with  a  dream,  at  pleasure, 

Shall   go  forth  and  conquer  a  crown; 
And   three   with   a   new   song's   measure 

Can   trample  a   kingdom  down. — O'Shaughnessy. 

The  lunch  or  supper  may  include  one  or  more  articles 
of  food  supposed  to  be  from  each  of  the  several  promi- 
nent countries:  French  rolls,  omelet  and  coffee; 
German  sausage  or  pretzels ;  Irish  potatoes ;  English 
roast  beef  or  plum  pudding;  macaroni,  spaghetti  or 
fruits  from  Italy ;  Scotch  oatmeal  parritch  ;  and  Yankee 
doughnuts,  succotash  or  pumpkin  pie.  Or  there  may 
be  separate  tables  with  a  complete  bill  of  fare,  and  a 
waitress  in  costume  for  each  nation,  thus  giving  a  wide 
choice.  The  latter  way  is  most  profitable,  as  some  will 
pay  for  several  suppers  before  leaving.  Both  the 
supper  room  and  the  parlor  should  be  tastefully  draped 
with  flags  of  the  various  nations,  and  a  stirring  march 
may  be  played  when  supper  is  announced. — From 
''Eighty  Pleasant  Evenings,"  United  Society  of  Chris- 
tian Endeavor. 


4.     HOME  RECEPTIONS 

Home  receptions  have  been  thoroughly  tested,  and 
proved  to  be  one  of  the  best  social  features  of  the 
boys'  departments.  It  is  seldom  difficult  to  secure 
invitations  for  groups  of  boys  to  some  of  the  finest 
homes  in  the  city.  The  host  is  glad  to  provide  the 
entertainment  and  the  surroundings  cannot  fail  to 
make  their  impression,  especially  upon  the  boy  who 
is  not  privileged  regularly  to  enjoy  such  things-  These 
receptions  almost  invariably  increase  the  interest  of 
the  host  in  the  boys'  department  work.  After  several 
years'  experience  the  secretary  of  the  Cambridge, 
Mass.,  Association  writes :  "Our  home  socials  are 
limited  to  groups  of  fifteen  boys.  The  group  is  so 
small  that  every  one  of  the  fifteen  gets  acquainted  with 
every  other  one.  They  play  games  around  one  large 
table,  so  that  there  is  created  a  much  stronger  social 
spirit.  The  influence  of  a  good  home  and  a  fine  Chris- 
tian hostess  is  something  that  cannot  be  given  in  the 


RECEPTIONS  AXD  SOCIALS  11 

If  thought  unlock  her  mysteries, 

If   friendship   on   me   smile, 
I  walk   in   marble   galleries, 

I  talk  with  kings  the  while. — Emerson. 

building.  There  is  a  cultivation  of  good  manners. 
The  boys  are  on  their  best  behavior  in  a  good  home." 
— E.  M.  R.,  Association  Boys,  Vol.  I.,  No.  i. 

Home  socials  have  many  advantages  over  those 
held  in  the  Association  rooms.  In  some  cases  the 
ideals  of  boys  have  been  changed  because  of  an  even- 
ing spent  as  guests  of  a  noble,  tactful  woman  in  a 
home  of  refinement  and  culture.  In  every  case  where 
parents  have  been  invited  to  entertain  a  group  of  boys, 
they  have  entered  enthusiastically  into  the  scheme,  and 
have  done  more  than  they  were  asked  to  do. 

The  secretary  makes  the  arrangement  several  weeks 
in  advance,  explains  all  the  details  to  the  hostess,  and 
asks  her  if  she  will  assume  the  entire  responsibility  of 
the  evening's  entertainment.  We  have  found  it  best 
to  have  a  group  of  about  fifteen  boys  meet  at  some 
rendezvous  and  come  to  the  house  in  a  body  with  the 
secretary. 

I  will  mention  a  valentine  social  given  to  a  Bible 
class  of  older  boys.  Mrs.  A —  decorated  her  rooms, 
arranged  suitable  games  and  made  valentines  for  each 
boy.  On  each  valentine  suggestive  pictures  were 
arranged,  and  the  boy  was  asked  to  compose  in  a- 
limited  time  some  verses  appropriate  to  the  picture. 
This  was  heartily  entered  into,  and  some  remarkable 
talent  was  displayed.  A  suitable  prize  was  given  for 
the  best  and  most  appropriate  verses.  Refreshments 
were  served  and  the  conversation  was  made  bright  and 
jolly  by  jokes  and  conundrums. 

In  another  home — that  of  a  peanut  broker — a  peanut 
social  was  given,  at  which  several  unique  features  were 
introduced  by  the  hostess.  In  this  case  the  host,  who 
had  not  before  shown  any  particular  interest  in  Asso- 
ciation work,  was  drawn  into  sympathy  with  it  and 
led  to  give  it  his  support. 

In  these  socials  the  boys  come  to  know  each  other 
better,  and  the  secretary  has  opportunity  to  come  into 


12  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

"Let  there  be  no  chink  of  the  money-cup  about  your  socials."  That 
is  a  wise  rule;  none  the  less  wise  that  there  are  many  exceptions  to  it. — 
Amos   R.   Wells. 

closer  touch  with  them,  and  to  win  the  cooperation 
of  the  host  and  hostess.  There  is  an  atmosphere  about 
the  home  social  which  does  not  pervade  the  Association 
building. — F.  IV.  Evans,  Boys  Work  Director,  Nor- 
folk, Va.,  in  Association  Boys,  Vol.  I.,  No.  6. 

5.     A  DIME  SOCIAL 

Music  and  two  or  three  bright  recitations  or  readings 
may  open  the  evening,  after  a  general  conversational 
time,  while  the  guests  are  assembling.  A  paper  or 
talk  may  be  given  on  the  process  of  coining.  This 
may  either  precede  or  follow  the  dime  game  which 
we  quote  from  The  Household. 

See  that  each  person  present  is  provided  with  a 
United  States  dime  and  a  lead  pencil,  also  a  sheet  of 
paper  upon  which  the  following  list  has  either  been 
written  or  printed,  with  numbered  blank  spaces  for  the 
answers.  When  these  have  been  distributed,  announce 
that  a  certain  length  of  time  will  be  given  in  which  to 
find  upon  the  face  of  the  coin  the  following  articles : 

1.  Fruit  of  a  tropical  tree. 

2.  What  the  Siamese  twins  were. 

3.  What  a  lazy  man  seldom  gets. 

4.  The  divisions  of  a  country. 

5.  The  cradle  of  liberty. 

6.  Another  name    for   an   isthmus. 

7.  Something  a  schoolboy  makes. 

8.  Something  a  bootblack  wants  to  give  you. 

9.  What  we  love  to  sing. 

10.  What  a  self-conceited  man   does. 

11.  What  you  might  do  if  very  angry. 

12.  Part   of   a   river   where   the   fourth   letter   of  the   Greek 

alphabet   is   sometimes    found. 

13.  An  instrument  to  catch  sound. 

Find  upon  the  reverse  side  of  the  dime: 

1.  A  sailor's  measure  of  distance  at  sea. 

2.  Two  articles  for  trimming  a  child's  hat. 

3.  A  number  a  miser  is  sure  to  take  care  of. 


RECEPTIONS  AND  SOCIALS  13 

It  is  sometimes  a  compliment  to  be  neglected.  There  are  people  to 
whom  we  are  very  polite,  not  because  we  crave  their  affection,  but 
because   we  dread  their  touchiness. — Rollins. 

4.  The  brow  of  a  hill  overhanging  a  precipice. 

5.  A  pleasant  companion  on  a  dark  night. 

6.  What  makes  the  forests  green. 

7.  From   the    letters  that    form   "One    Dime"   make   thirty- 

three  words,     common  and  proper  nouns. 

Key 

Articles  found  upon  the  face  of  the  dime  : 

1.  Date.  2.  United.  3.  A  head.  4.  States.  5.  America. 
6.  Neck.  7.  Figures.  8.  A  shine.  9.  America.  10. 
Knows  (nose).  11.  Stamped.  12.  Mouth  (Greek,  letter, 
Delta).     13.     Ear. 

Articles  found  upon  the  reverse  side  of  the  dime : 

1.     Knot.     2.     Wreath   and  bow.     3.     One.    4.     Edge.     5. 
Bow.     6.     Leaves. 

— From  "Eighty  Pleasant  Evenings,"   United  Society 
of  Christian  Endeavor. 

6.     A  PRESS  SOCIAL 

Edit  an  oral  newspaper,  with  some  ready  speaker  in 
charge  as  editor-in-chief,  to  explain  and  conduct 
matters.  For  the  editorial  page,  have  several  four- 
minute  papers  or  addresses  from  a  pastor  and  other 
contributing  editors,  on  topics  of  general  or  current 
interest.  The  page  in  charge  of  the  news  editor  should 
consist  of  selected  clippings  and  written  items,  either 
local  or  of  wider  range,  concerning  the  work  of  the 
Association. 

A  department  of  personals  is  amusing,  if  planned 
long  in  advance.  It  consists  of  head  lines  and  short 
but  thrilling  incidents  clipped  from  newspapers,  regard- 
ing people  whose  names  chance  to  be  the  same  as  those 
of  certain  members  of  your  Association.  Collected 
and  pasted  on  a  card  or  sheet  of  paper,  they  can  be 
read  by  the  editor  of  the  department,  and  afterwards 
passed  around,  to  satisfy  any  who  may  suspect  him  of 
improvising. 

For  your  literary  page  have  one  good  short  story 
told,  original  if  possible.     Impromptu  attempts  at  its 


14  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

The  social  committee  has  not  completed  its  task  until  it  has  trans- 
formed every  other  committee  of  the  Association  into  a  social  com- 
mittee.— Amos  R.   Wells. 

pictorial  illustration  follow.  For  the  best  sketch  thus 
made,  an  illustrated  book,  such  as  "A  Daily  Message 
for  Association  Members,"  was  once  given ;  and  to  the 
least  successful  artist,  a  porous  plaster,  warranted  to 
draw. 

For  your  advertising  columns,  prepare  in  advance  a 
list  of  familiar  modern  advertisements,  retaining  the 
phraseology,  but  substituting  the  name  or  initials  of 
your  Association  for  the  thing  advertised ;  as  "Life  is 
a  constant  battle,  made  easier  by  using  Y.  M.  C.  A." 
Appropriate  literature  may  be  displayed  on  a  table,  the 
foreign  and  curiously  printed  newspapers  predominat- 
ing. 

Serve  pressed  refreshments,  consisting  of  lemonade 
(pressed  lemons)  and  pressed  chicken  sandwiches,  to 
which  may  be  added  ice  cream  pressed  into  bricks. 
Auction  off  some  articles,  like  a  pressed  meat  loaf, 
compressed  yeast  cakes,  etc.,  toward  the  close  of  the 
evening. 

A  suitably  pressing  form  of  invitation  could  be  used. 
— From  "Eighty  Pleasant  Evenings,"  United  Society 
of  Christian  Endeavor. 

7.     FATHERS'  AND  SONS'  SOCIAL 

Purpose:  This  social  is  conducted  with  two  distinct 
objects : 

1.  Helping  the  father  and  his  son  to  become  better 
friends,  and  more  companionable. 

2.  To  interest  the  father  in  the  affairs  of  the 
Association. 

Invitations:  About  two  weeks  before  the  social,  it 
should  be  thoroughly  advertised  among  the  boys,  and 
they  should  be  told  to  bring  their  fathers  with  them 
on  the  night  stated.  No  boy  should  be  admitted  with- 
out his  father  (unless  possibly  an  older  brother  or 
other  relative  should  take  his  place),  and  no  father  is 
admitted  without  his  boy.     Then  about  a  week  pre- 


RECEPTIONS  AND  SOCIALS  15 

If  good  people  would  but  make  their  goodness  agreeable,  and  smile 
instead  of  frowning  in  their  virtues,  how  many  would  they  win  to  the 
good  cause! — Archbishop  Usher. 

vious,  the  father  should  be  sent  an  invitation  saying 
that  the  officers  of  the  Association  wish  to  second  the 
invitation  of  his  son  to  come  to  the  social. 

Program:  As  the  boys  and  their  fathers  come  into 
the  building,  they  are  furnished  with  a  program  with 
such  events  as  the  following  named  upon  it:  1.  Game 
of  Checkers.  2.  Game  of  Ping  Pong.  3.  Game  of 
Table  Croquet.  4.  Short  Dash.  5.  Broad  Jump. 
6.     Spirometer  Test.     7.     Hop,   Skip  and  Jump. 

The  boys  and  their  fathers  may  begin  playing  these 
various  games  as  soon  as  they  come  into  the  building, 
and  as  later  ones  come,  the  first  arrivals  adjourn  to 
the  gymnasium  for  the  games  at  the  end  of  the  pro- 
gram. Each  boy  competes  with  his  father,  and  the 
winner  is  indicated  upon  the  cards. 

At  the  proper  time  a  game  of  volley  ball  may  be 
arranged,  the  boys  playing  against  their  fathers.  A 
tug  of  war  is  also  successfully  used  by  dividing  the 
sides  evenly.  A  short  musical  program  may  follow, 
if  it  does  not  make  the  program  too  long,  and  light 
refreshments  be  served.  If  the  social  is  for  older  boys 
and  their  fathers,  by  having  an  open  swim  at  the  end 
of  the  program  some  fathers  may  avail  themselves  of 
the  opportunity  of  taking  a  swim  with  their  boys  in 
the  "new-fashioned  swimmin'  hole." 

The  results  of  a  social  of  this  kind  may  be  very  far- 
reaching.  It  is  certainly  gratifying  to  see  the  fathers 
take  off  their  coats  and  become  boys  again — comrades 
of  their  sons.     Try  it ! — H.  H.  Moore,  Spokane,  Wash. 

8.     AN  ANIMAL  SOCIAL 

A  social  event  for  Bible  class  members,  which  was 
used  with  success  at  Youngstown,  Ohio,  might  be  of 
value  to  others. 

A  week  previous  to  the  event  postal  cards  were  sent 
out  calling  it  a  " Surprise  Social,"  to  take  place  imme- 
diately after  Bible  class  lesson.     Only  boys  over  thir- 


RECEPTIONS  AND  SOCIALS  17 

If  your  social  committee  is  unsuccessful,  the  probable  reason  is  that 
it  is  not  enough  of  a   prayer   committee. — Amos   R.   Wells. 

teen  were  invited.  The  postals  stated  that  a  prize 
would  be  offered  for  the  boys  who  would  hand  in  the 
largest  and  neatest  lists  of  names  of  animals,  birds,  and 
fishes  found  in  the  Bible,  with  the  references  where 
found. 

A  number  of  boys  handed  in  very  creditable  lists. 
The  winner  had  seventy-five  different  animals,  birds, 
and  fishes ;  the  second,  sixty-five ;  and  the  third,  sixty. 
When  asked  how  they  had  secured  them,  they 
answered  they  had  commenced  at  Genesis  and  looked 
the  Bible  through.  This  was  good  practice.  At  the 
social,  animal  crackers  were  passed  around  and  each 
boy  had  to  draw  his  animal  on  the  blackboard.  On  a 
list  numbered  to  correspond  with  blackboard  figures 
each  boy  wrote  his  guess ;  when  the  list  was  completed 
each  boy  exchanged  and  corrected  his  neighbor's  list 
as  the  leader  read  the  correct  name  corresponding  to 
each  number. 

The  next  event  was  the  old  game  of  pinning  the  tail 
to  the  donkey,  which  needs  no  description.  Taking  the 
boys  by  rows  as  they  were  seated,  a  prize  was  offered 
for  the  boys  who  could  best  imitate  a  barnyard  fowl 
or  animal.  The  imitations  ranged  from  the  proud 
soprano  bantam  cock  to  the  lordly  red-combed  chanti- 
cleer who  "Waked  the  priest  all  shaven  and  shorn." 
Pigs,  chickens,  cats,  "old  mooley  cows,"  Rover  the 
dog,  Dick  the  horse,  and  Tom  the  cat,  were  not  for- 
gotten. Noah  himself  would  have  felt  right  at  home. 
Candy  animals  made  prizes  for  this  event. 

The  grand  finale  came  with  the  refreshments,  sand- 
wiches and  cocoa  brought  by  the  boys  themselves  and 
served  by  them. — Joseph  A.  Goodhue,  in  Association 
Boys,  Vol  VI.,  No.  i. 

9.     PALM  SOCIAL 

This  is  a  warm  weather  social.  Decorate  with 
potted  palms  and  have  a  generous  supply  of  palm-leaf 
fans.     An  essay,  story,  chalk-talk,  or  stereopticon  ad 


18  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Isaiah    has    a    motto    for    social    committees:     "Strengthen    the    weak 
hands." — Amos  R.  Wells. 

dress  on  "A  Journey  in  the  Land  of  the  Palm  Trees" 
may  be  made  entertaining,  but  should  not  be  very  long. 
In  connection  with  this,  pictures  of  the  cocoanut  palm 
especially  may  be  shown.  Then  the  guests  are  con- 
ducted, in  small  groups,  into  a  room  having  the  lights 
turned  low  or  shaded,  where  a  member  of  the  Associa- 
tion disguised  in  gypsy  costume  tells  the  fortune  of 
each  in  turn,  at  a  charge  of  five  cents,  or  whatever 
patrons  please  to  give.  The  fortunes  are  told  from 
the  lines  on  the  palm  of  the  hand,  and  should  include 
marvelous  achievements  in  the  direction  of  work  for 
the  Association,  combined  with  humorous  adventures 
and  catastrophes,  all  adapted  to  the  known  tendencies, 
talents,  and  habits  of  the  individual. 

These  fortunes,  if  conducted  by  a  bright,  ready 
talker,  possessed  of  tact  as  well  as  wit,  will  furnish 
material  enough  for  conversation  and  merriment 
among  the  main  body  of  the  guests  as  fast  as  the  suc- 
cessive groups  return  and  new  ones  take  their  places. 
A  gypsy  song,  such  as  ''Esmeralda,"  may  be  rendered 
as  a  solo,  either  before  or  after  the  gypsy's  reign ;  or 
it  may  be  inserted  during  the  waiting  period  before 
the  first  group  returns,  if  the  rooms  are  somewhat 
separated  as  to  the  penetration  of  sound.  Serve  ice 
cream,  cocoanut  cake,  and  iced  lemonade  for  refresh- 
ments.— L.  M.  H.,  from  "Eighty  Pleasant  Evenings/' 
United  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor. 

10.     HIGH   SCHOOL  ATHLETIC  SOCIAL 

Washington,  D.  C,  had  a  successful  social  affair  by 
inviting  (under  the  auspices  of  the  high  school  Bible 
classes)  the  entire  male  student  body  of  the  five  high 
schools  to  occupy  the  boys'  building  one  evening. 
Each  school  supplied  the  following  competitors  for 
the  sports — no  student  allowed  in  two  events : 

1.  One  pool  player. 

2.  Five   basket    ball    players. 


RECEPTIONS  AND  SOCIALS  19 

"Can  I  do  anything  for  you?"  He  was  always  asking  that  question. 
— Thackeray. 

3.  Fourteen  runners  for  relay   (each  to  run  two  laps,  or 

one  quarter  of  a  mile). 

4.  One  swimmer  for  25-yard  event. 

5.  Four  swimmers  for  relay  race. 

The  fun  started  at  7.30  with  the  pool  game.  En- 
tries were  drawn  in  tennis  tournament  style;  straight 
pool,  first  eight  balls  winning;  the  loser  out  for  good. 
The  school  winning  received  ten  points.  At  this  stage 
a  short  address  of  welcome,  together  with  an  an- 
nouncement of  the  Bible  study  plan,  was  given. 

Adjournment  to  the  gymnasium  for  basket-ball. 
Five  minute  games,  eliminating  the  losing  team.  The 
final  winner  received  ten  points. 

In  the  relay  racing,  the  pursuit  style,  with  the  teams 
starting  at  opposite  sides  of  the  track,  was  the  method 
used.     Ten  points  to  the  final  winner. 

Each  of  the  swimming  events  scored  five  points  for 
the  winning  school. 

Refreshments :  plenty  of  fruit,  lemonade  served  in 
style  from  a  punch  bowl,  by  a  colored  waiter.  All  over 
at  10.30.     All  had  a  good  time. 

11.     APPLE  SOCIAL 

Put  on  cardboard  the  names  of  several  kinds  of 
apples,  with  the  same  figure  under  each  letter  of  a 
name — 1  for  pippin,  2  for  baldwin,  etc. 

PIPPIN 
111111 

B  A         L  D  W        I  N 

2  2  2  2  2  2  2 

Cut  all  the  numbered  letters  apart,  having  enough  to 
provide  one  card  for  each  person.  After  mixing  them 
well,  distribute  promiscuously  through  the  audience. 
Then  explain  that  all  having  the  number  1  on  their  cards 
are  to  get  together,  all  having  the  number  2  on  their 
cards  to  get  together  some  distance  from  the  other 
group,  and  so  on,  until  all  are  in  their  respective  groups, 


20  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

You  think  you  believe  in  the  brotherhood  of  man.  Test  yourself  at 
the  next  social,  and  see  whether  you  do  not  practically  believe  only  in 
the  brotherhood  of  the  congenial.- — Amos  R.  Wells. 

when  it  should  be  announced  that  each  group  will  be 
given,  say,  fifteen  minutes  to  find  out  what  the  cards 
spell,  and  to  write  a  poem  on  their  apple.  One  from 
each  group  reads  the  poem.     Let  three  judges  decide 


APPLE  SOCIAL. 


HAT?  Apple  Social. 

HEN  ?     March  3rd,  rgo8,  8  to  10  p.  m. 
HERE  ?  R-  R-  DepartmentY.  M.  C.  A. 

HOM  FOR  ?  you. 

J|Y  9  To  see  who  will  get  the 

B.  A.  P.,  L.  A.  P.  or  the  N.  A.  P. 

COME      J  (J 


E  OJV  TIME. 
1  RING  YOUR  FRIENDS. 


on  the  three  best  poems,  and  a  good  wit  present  to  the 
best  of  the  three  a  B.  A.  P.  (Big  Apple  Pie),  to  the 
next  best  a  L.  A.  P.  (Little  Apple  Pie),  and  to  the 
third  N.  A.  P.  (No  Apple  Pie)  ;  the  last  prize  should 
look  very  rich  and  juicy  but  be  filled  with  cotton.  The 
winners  must  divide  their  pies  before  the  audience. 
Secrecy  is  a  big  part  of  the  fun  in  this  contest. — O.  E. 
Merritt,  R.  R.  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  McKccs  Rocks,  Pa. 

12.     FALL  RALLIES 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  a  big  social  rally  may  be  held, 
at  which  reports  of  members'  summer  social  activities 
are  made,  accounts  of  vacation  and  "off -time"  experi- 
ences given,  and  many  delightful  hours  of  the  past 
summer  time  lived  over  again.     Events  of  this   sort 


RECEPTIONS  AND  SOCIALS  21 

It  is  the  test  of  fine  character,  as  of  fine  singing,  that  the  person 
displaying  it  makes  it  seem,  not  a  difficult  thing  well  done,  but  the 
simplest  thing  in  the  world   to   do. — Rollins. 

help  mightily  to  hold  members  who  would  otherwise 
drop  their  membership  until  the  colder  season  opens, 
and  they  also  aid  the  Association  in  securing  members 
who  would  ordinarily  never  be  enlisted  during  the 
summer  season.  Moreover,  they  furnish  an  oppor- 
tunity for  secretaries,  who  during  the  busier  season  of 
the  year  find  it  almost  impossible  to  cultivate  the  social 
acquaintance  of  members,  to  gain  a  host  of  new  friends. 
Friendships  thus  cultivated  have,  to  my  personal 
knowledge,  frequently  culminated  in  the  surrender  of 
the  lives  of  men  and  boys  to  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  their 
enlistment  into  active  service  for  their  fellows.  This 
is  the  supreme  test  of  the  value  of  summer  social  work. 
It  costs  money,  time,  thought,  perspiration,  but  the 
investment  pays  big  dividends. — F.  D.  Fagg,  New 
Britain,   Conn. 

13.     "SATURDAY  NIGHTERS" 

Last  year  we  tried  a  number  of  novelty  socials  on 
Saturday  nights  under  such  names  as  the  "Peanut 
Square,"  'Top-Corn  Ball,"  "Chestnut  Circle,"  and  the 
"Sweet  Apple  Bee."  On  these  evenings  we  gave  the 
members  some  form  of  entertainment  and  introduced 
a  number  of  novelties  in  getting  the  men  acquainted, 
such  as  playing  an  original  game  called  "I  Know  You," 
where  every  man  would  introduce  himself  to  the  other 
men  present,  there  being  in  the  audience  a  man  who, 
when  the  fiftieth  person  shook  hands  with  him,  placed 
a  silver  dollar  in  his  hand.  This  had  been  explained 
to  the  audience  beforehand,  but  of  course  they  did  not 
know  which  man  had  the  dollar.  We  also  tried  a 
number  of  guessing  games,  bringing  into  the  Associa- 
tion a  dummy  street-car  conductor  who  had  supposedly 
offended  a  member,  and  the  game  was  to  get  his 
number,  the  one  guessing  nearest  to  it  getting  the  prize. 
One  of  the  best  means  of  helping  the  fellows  to  enjoy 
themselves    on   these    occasions    was    the    printing   of 


22  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

In  seating  strangers,   place  them,   if  possible,   near  the   most  socially 
inclined  of  the  members. — Amos  R.  Wells. 

popular  songs  in  mimeograph  and  having  a  good  pianist 
and  a  vocalist  to  start  them.  We  think  of  getting  out 
our  own  songbook  this  year. — Horace  G.  Williamson, 
Cincinnati,  O. 


14.     A  RE-UNION  INVITATION 


MEMBERS'  RE-UNION  for  NAUGHTY  NINE 
Monday  Night,  October    1  1 

Eight  Sharp 


RAILROAD    MEN'S    BUILDING 


FRANK  G.  REYNOLDS,  Funny  Man 

CHARLIE  WOLD,  Musical  Glass  Masseur 


PICTURES    OF  THE    ARCTIC    REGION 

Showing  How  to  Discover  the  Big  Nail 


CONTEST 

"CLIMBING  THE  NORTH  POLE"  (Greased) 

PRIZE  $3.00 

Entries: — Allegamush,  Matt  Henson,  Cook,  Peary  and  Frozadafoot. 

After  the  pole  is  dumb,  the  Board  of  Ash  Can  and  Waste 
Basket  Research,  will  receive  the  "data"  of  Cook  and  Peary 

DONT  MISS  THE  TESTIMONY  OF  MATT  HENSON  AND  THE 
ESQUIMAUX 


ETAH   REFRESHMENTS 

(EAT-AH,  OR  GO  WITHOUT) 
ONE  NIGHT  ONLY— MEMBERSHIP  TICKET  ADMITS 

—IV.  W.  Adair,  R.  R.  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  New  York. 


RECEPTIONS  AND  SOCIALS  23 

Today's    best    should    be    tomorrow's    starting-point. — The    Saturday 
Evening  Post. 

15.     LEFT-HANDED  SOCIAL 

A  reception  to  a  victorious  basket  ball  team  took  the 
form  of  a  "Left-handed  Social."  A  four-page  pro- 
gram, cards  opening  on  the  wrong  side,  bore  a  cartoon 
of  a  basket  ball  player  in  action,  and  (the  following 
verse  : 

Left-handed  greeting, 

Left-handed  eating, 

Left-handed  compliments,  too ; 

Left-handed  name, 

Left-handed  game, 

I  think  that's  enough,  don't  you? 

The  reception  line  greeted  the  guests  with  the  left 
hand,  and  the  left-handed  compliments  were  "slams" 
and  "knocks."  Refreshments  were  eaten  with  the  left 
hand,  and  the  three  blank  pages  of  the  cards  were  used 
in  securing  left-handed  autographs — a  prize  being 
given  for  the  largest  number  received.  At  the  con- 
clusion of  the  musical  program,  team  trophies  were 
presented  and  individual  medals  awarded. — Washing- 
ton, D.  C. 

16.     UNIVERSITY   RECEPTION 

The  University  of  Buffalo  has  a  theatre  party  once 
a  year — one  of  its  greatest  social  events.  It  is  the  one 
thing  that  seems  to  unite  the  five  departments.  After 
the  program  in  the  theatre  closes,  the  Association  sends 
a  band  to  the  theatre  and  brings  the  students  and  their 
friends  direct  to  the  hall.  A  contest  between  the  five 
departments  is  held,  including  the  following  events : 
spider  race,  basket  ball,  tug  of  war  and  block  race. 
The  winning  department  is  presented  with  a  banner 
or  pennant  to  be  kept  for  one  year.  After  the  contest, 
which  ends  about  12.30,  refreshments  are  served — 
sandwiches,  doughnuts,  coffee,  etc.  Usually  over  400 
men  attend.  This  helps  to  counteract  the  tendency 
of  the  men  to  go  to  saloons  and  other  evil   resorts 


24  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Your  social  will  be  a  comparative  failure  if  you  have  not  gathered 
into  it  a  few  disreputables  from  the  highways  and  hedges. — Amos  R. 
Wells. 

after  the  show.  A  reception  is  also  held  earlier  in  the 
season  for  the  freshman  class,  at  which  time  member- 
ship in  the  Association  is  discussed. — W.  B.  Van 
Scoter,  Buffalo  Central. 


17.     A  RAILWAY  SOCIAL 

Arrange  chairs  like  the  seats  of  a  railway  coach, 
with  an  aisle  down  the  center.  If  the  party  is  a  large 
one,  place  from  four  to  six  chairs  crosswise  on  each 
side  of  the  aisle,  instead  of  two.  Have  the  program 
fairly  well  arranged  previously.  Gongs,  bells,  whistles 
and  train  noises  are  provided  for;  also  a  conductor, 
brakeman,  periodical  and  candy  boy.  When  the  train 
is  well  under  way,  start  the  program.  The  conductor 
in  taking  the  tickets  should  have  an  argument  with  a 
man  who  won't  pay,  putting  him  off  the  train.  Other 
features  are  monologues,  dialogues  between  the  pas- 
sengers, and  a  group  singing.  The  brakeman  announces 
stations.  After  the  items  on  the  program — and  the 
passengers — are  exhausted,  announce  the  end  of  the 
journey  or  dinner  in  the  dining  car  and  adjourn  for 
refreshments. 


18.     SALMAGUNDI  PARTY 

Thirty  of  the  older  boys  brought  ladies  to  the  Asso- 
ciation for  a  ''Ladies'  Night"  and  called  the  event  a 
"Salmagundi"  party. 

Small  tables  were  set  around  the  room  at  which  two 
couples  were  placed,  and  progressive  parlor  games 
played.  At  the  ring  of  the  bell  by  one  of  the  patron- 
esses the  parties  changed  from  one  table  to  another. 
Six  or  eight  prominent  ladies  were  secured  as  patron- 
esses, and  music  was  furnished  by  a  good  orchestra. 
Score  cards  were  punched  at  each  table.  Refresh- 
ments were  served  in  separate  rooms,  or  at  the  tables. 


RECEPTIONS  AND  SOCIALS  25 

You  find  yourself  refreshed  by  the  presence  of  cheerful  people.  Why 
not  make  earnest  effort  to  confer  that  pleasure  on  others? — Lydia  Maria 
Childs. 

By  selecting  only  the  choicest  fellows  as  promoters, 
this  was  conducted  in  a  dignified  and  interesting  way. 
—W.  S.  Reed,  Newark,  N.  J. 

19.     TWO  NOVELTY  SOCIALS 

The  feature  of  the  evening  is  an  exhibition  of  regu- 
lar gymnasium  class  work,  with  possibly  the  addition 
of  a  few  specialties.  Every  member  participating  is 
obliged  to  come  masked  and  in  costume.  Aside  from 
the  social  value  of  this,  the  advantage  lies  in  the  fact 
that  every  member  may  participate. 

Members  are  to  be  divided  into  two  groups,  one  on 
each  side  of  a  curtain,  and  each  side  performs  in  turn 
on  apparatus  which  has  been  so  arranged  that  shadows 
will  be  cast  upon  the  curtain.  While  one  side  is  per- 
forming the  other  is  guessing  as  to  the  identity  of  the 
performers ;  the  side  guessing  the  greatest  number  cor- 
rectly wins  a  prize. — Dr.  Lyman  G.  Haskell,  Jackson- 
ville, Fla. 

20.  COLLEGE  PREPARATORY  SOCIAL 

Last  spring  we  had  a  most  enjoyable  evening  with 
the  graduating  class  of  our  high  schools.  The  princi- 
pal idea  was  to  get  in  touch  with  them  regarding  the 
various  colleges  to  which  they  expected  to  go  in  the 
fall,  and  to  bring  them  into  touch  with  representative 
students  who  were  the  leaders  in  the  social,  athletic, 
and  religious  life  of  their  respective  institution's. 
Representatives  from  practically  every  college  in  our 
state  were  present  and  each  made  a  short  talk. — A.  L. 
Ward,  Indianapolis,  hid. 

21.     INCLUDING  THE  LADIES 

The  Association  building  is  opened  every  other 
Friday  evening  for  a  "Ladies'  Reception,"  when  the 


26  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

You  think  you  are  unselfish.  Make  trial  of  it  at  the  social  by  for- 
getting whether  you  are  having  a  good  time  in  your  desire  to  give  a 
good  time  to  others. — Amos  R.  Wells. 

members  come  with  their  families  and  friends.  The 
evening  is  devoted  to  bowling,  volley  ball  and 
the  various  privileges  of  the  Association,  and  there  is 
usually  a  good  musical  program  made  up  of  local 
talent.  These  ladies'  evenings  have  been  successful 
in  uniting  the  foreign  colonies  and  establishing  a 
patronage  for  the  Association  among  those  who  would 
otherwise  not  find  .  attractions  there. — A.  E.  Turner, 
Monterey,  Mexico. 


22.     OPEN  HOUSE  (BOYS) 

E.  G.  Hunger  ford  reports  a  successful  social  even- 
ing for  older  boys,  both  school  and  employed.  Make 
the  invitation  dignified  and  attractive,  inviting  mem- 
ber and  lady  friend.  Have  reception  committee  of 
boys  at  door.  Introduce  them  to  receiving  line  con- 
sisting of  chairman  of  boys'  work  committee  and  wife, 
general  secretary  and  wife,  boys'  work  director  and 
wife,  president  of  boys'  cabinet,  etc.  Guests  receive 
neat  souvenir  programs.  Musical  and  reading  num- 
bers by  boys  follow.  Inspection  of  boys'  department. 
Serve  Y.  M.  C.  A.  punch.  Close  with  debate  between 
students  and  business  boys. 


23.     MEMBERS'  MONTHLY  STAG 

This  has  usually  been  held  in  the  gymnasium;  the 
entertainers  being  similar  to  those  used  at  the  "Satur- 
day N igniters" — cartoonists,  etc.,  only  perhaps  a  little 
better.  During  the  evening,  heads  of  the  various 
departments  announced  what  they  were  doing  and 
what  their  plans  were.  Occasionally  apples  were 
furnished,  but  care  had  to  be  taken  lest  the  members 
became  boisterous. — R.  D.  Tucker,  Social  Work 
Director,  West  Side,  N.  Y. 


RECEPTIONS  AND  SOCIALS  27 

As  we  came  up  the  hill  there  was  difficulty,  and  here  and  there  a 
hard  pull,  to  be  sure,  but  strength,  and  spirits,  and  all  sorts  of  cheery 
incident  and  companionship  on  the  road. — Thackeray. 

24.     COLLEGE  RECEPTION 

Guests  file  past  a  receiving  line  of  college  and 
Association  officials,  to  spend  a  social  evening  in  the 
gymnasium,  with  interclass  yells,  songs  and  stunts. 
The  entertainment  is  similar  to  the  Fourth  of  July 
celebration  of  the  Student  Conference  at  Northfield, 
where  the  representatives  of  the  various  colleges  march 
in  (lock  step).  After  all  have  assembled  each  college 
does  its  stunt. 

25.     RALLY  OF  YOUNG  PEOPLE'S 
SOCIETIES 

Meet  in  a  suburban  grove  or  park.  The  program  is 
provided  by  representatives  of  the  societies  participat- 
ing. It  should  include  one  strong,  inspirational 
address  by  some  able  Christian  worker,  out-of-door 
games  and  band  concert.  Announce  a  basket 
luncheon. 

26.     STORY  TELLING  CONTEST 

This  may  be  either  a  fake  affair,  to  see  who  can 
spin  the  funniest  or  most  improbable  yarn ;  or  it  may 
be  an  entertainment  of  better  tone,  in  which  the  teller 
of  the  best  story  wins  out.  These  stories  should  have 
variety,  including  the  humorous,  the  pathetic,  the  di- 
dactic, etc.  It  goes  without  saying  that  there  should 
be  nothing  low  or  irreverent;  there  is  sometimes  a 
trend  in  these  directions  where  an  audience  is  made 
up  wholly  of  men. — N. 

27.     CAMP  REUNION 

Let  the  boys  who  attended  the  summer  camp 
arrange  for  a  winter-evening  reunion.  Trim  the  room 
to  make  it  look  as  woodsy  as  possible ;  put  up  a  tent 


28  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

It  has  been  said  by  Mr.  McCauley  that  one  of  the  duties  of  the  social 
committee  is  to  prevent  people  from  being  too  sociable. — Amos  R.  Wells. 

if  practicable,  with  the  various  camp  accessories — an 
open  fire  adds  much  to  the  effect.  Arrange  an  appro- 
priate program,  with  stories,  songs  and  camp  stunts. 
Serve  simple  refreshments  that  can  be  eaten  while 
sitting  on  the  floor  or  on  camp  stools. — H.  S.  N. 

28.     NIGHTS  OF  ALL  NATIONS 

This  consists  of  a  series  of  four  or  five  evenings 
given  up  to  foreign  nations,  such  as  Swedish,  Irish, 
French,  etc.,  with  national  decorations,  monologues, 
impersonations,  etc.  A  preliminary  prospectus  an- 
nouncing one  a  month  for  the  winter  may  be  made 
attractive. — Ward  Adair,  R.  R.  Dcpt.,  New  York  City. 

29.     MOVING  PICTURES 

The  moving  pictures  are  very  popular  these  days 
and  are  often  made  a  drawing  feature  of  social  enter- 
tainments. A  great  deal  of  care  should  be  used  in 
selecting  the  films,  the  only  safe  way  being  to  see  all 
of  the  pictures  before  allowing  them  to  be  put  on  in 
the  building.  Some  very  disreputable  views  have  been 
exhibited  at  Association  entertainments. 

30.     A  DIRECTORS'  SOCIAL 

FOR  THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE  BOARD  AND  THEIR  FAMILIES 

Last  year  the  entire  program  was  given  by  the  chil- 
dren of  the  directors,  and  was  surprisingly  successful. 
—B.  W.  Gillctt,  Haverhill,  Mass. 

31.     GHOST  MINSTRELS 

Bring  the  whole  troupe  on  with  sheets  over  their 
heads,  the  stage  being  darkened.  The  usual  minstrel 
show  follows,  with  ghost  jokes  and  songs,  for  the  first 
part.  Turn  on  the  lights  and  brighten  up  things,  for 
the  second  part. 


RECEPTIONS  AND  SOCIALS  29 

Yes,  we're  boys, — always  playing  with  tongue   or  with  pen.— 

And  I  sometimes  have  asked,— Shall  we  ever  be  men?— O.   W.   Holmes. 

Nine  Suggested  Social  Evenings 

By  Mrs.  David  R.  Porter. 

32.     POST  CARD  EVENING 

Cut  pictures  of  well-known  buildings  into  four 
or  six  pieces  each,  then  shake  all  the  pieces  belonging 
to  each  picture  together.  Have  as  many  envelopes  as 
cards  or  pictures,  each  one  containing  as  many  pieces 
as  each  card  is  cut  into.  Pass  these  envelopes  and 
then  have  the  participant  strive  to  find  all  the  pieces 
which  form  a  card.  Be  careful  to  have  one  piece  in 
each  envelope  and  a  number  on  the  back  of  it.     For 

example : 

Capital  of  United   States,  1 

Congressional,  2 

Abe   Lincoln,  3 

Thus  each  knows  what  to  seek.  After  most  have  been 
found,  have  each  one  tell  what  his  card  represents  and 
tell  one  interesting  thing  about  it. 

33.     A  TRIP  AROUND  THE  WORLD 

Have  several  objects  in  the  rooms  from  as  many 
different  countries  as  possible  and  have  the  people 
guess  from  what  country  each  came.  As  each  guest 
arrives  hand  him  a  slip  of  paper  with  the  name  of 
some  country  on  it.  All  having  the  same  name  must 
represent  that  country  in  some  way.  Later  in  the 
evening  have  the  capitals  of  the  countries  called  and 
each  group  is  supposed  to  do  something  characteristic 
of  the  country  they  represent.  If  refreshments  are 
served,  a  novel  way  would  be  to  have  small  tables  and 
either  by  decorations  or  food  designate  a  country. 

34.     MEN  WE  KNOW 

Secure  pictures  of  great  men.     Cut  each  picture  in 
two  in  the  center.    Match  the  upper  part  of  one  to  the 


30  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Christ's  words  apply  to  socials:  "If  ye  salute  your  brethren  only, 
what  do  ye  more  than  others?" — Amos  R.  Wells. 

lower  part  of  another.  Grant's  chin  and  Garfield's 
forehead  form  a  face  such  as  one  often  sees.  Lin- 
coln's chin  and  Brunson's  forehead.  The  object  is  to 
guess  to  whom  the  chin  and  forehead  of  each  belongs. 
To  make  it  intensely  interesting,  use  familiar  faces, 
like  Longfellow's,  Whittier's,  etc.,  and  carefully  match 
them,  striving  to  make  a  good  face  in  each  case. 
Paste  them  on  a  piece  of  paper  and  cut  oval,  round  or 
diamond  shape. 

35.     WORD   CONTEST 

Hand  each  person  a  letter  of  the  alphabet  printed 
on  a  card.  Be  careful  to  have  many  vowels.  As  two 
persons  or  groups  of  persons  chat  together  they  are 
to  see  if  their  letters  together  spell  a  word.  Each  time 
a  person  helps  to  form  a  word  he  places  the  word  on 
his  card.  The  winner  is  the  one  who  has  succeeded  in 
helping  form  the  most  words. 

36.     GUM  GAME 

Pass  around  cards,  having  at  the  top  of  each  the 
name  of  some  animal,  cat,  dog,  man,  etc.  (Sometimes 
the  name  of  a  country.)  Each  boy  is  also  handed  a 
stick  of  gum  and  requested  to  chew  and  then  mould 
on  card  a  figure  representing  the  animal  designated  to 
him.  After  this  is  done  a  rhyme  about  his  object  may 
be  written  underneath. 

37.     A  MUSICAL  EVENING 

First  select  some  well-known  songs,  old  and  new, 
and  have  some  one  in  the  room  or  in  another  room 
play  some  phrase  from  each  one.  Have  cards  passed 
with  as  many  numbers  as  there  are  songs  selected, 
instructing  all  to  try  and  guess  what  tune  is  being 
played.  Also  cut  out  musical  instruments  from  a 
catalog  and  paste  on  a  card.  In  this  contest  the  in- 
struments are  to  be  guessed. 


BANQUETS  AND  DINNERS  31 

People  will  go  on  chattering,  and  after  all  what  will  their  scandal 
matter  a  hundred  years  hence? — Thackeray. 

38.     TELEGRAMS 

Write  ten  letters  on  a  slip  of  paper,  or,  if  procur- 
able, on  a  telegram  blank.  The  letters  are  to  be 
chosen,  one  at  a  time,  by  ten  guests,  and  telegrams 
written  with  words  beginning  with  the  letters  chosen, 
in  the  order  in  which  they  are  chosen,  each  guest  of 
course  participating  in  making  out  a  telegram.  This 
affords  much  merriment. 

39.     "GUESS" 

Write  on  small  slips  of  paper  Mother  Goose  rhymes, 
some  proverbs  or  a  conundrum.  Pass  these.  On  a 
card  each  is  asked  to  draw  an  illustration  of  the  verse 
on  his  slip.  He  signs  his  name.  The  cards  are  col- 
lected, numbered  and  placed  where  all  may  see  them. 
All  try  to  guess  what  each  one  has  tried  to  represent. 
This  may  also  be  successfully  carried  out  with  adver- 
tisements, handing  each  the  name  of  some  well-known 
article  and  requesting  him  to  write  an  advertisement. 

40.     HIDDEN  FLOWERS 

Have  the  letters,  spelling  the  names  of  flowers, 
twisted.  For  example :  Spany,  Lovite,  Satubur.  Each 
one  is  requested  to  make  each  strange  looking  word 
form  the  name  of  a  flower.  If  more  appropriate  to 
the  occasion,  states,  capitals,  cities,  etc.,  may  be  used. 
From  twenty  to  thirty  well-chosen  ones  make  an  even- 
ing's entertainment. 


Banquets  and  Dinners 

If  an  Arab  eats  salt  with  you  he  is  afterwards  your 
friend.  Eating  together  has  ever  been  the  chief  sym- 
bol of  social  life.  The  banquet,  dinner,  supper,  or  tea 
has  always  been  a  prominent  feature  in  the  Associa- 
tion, but  it  has  of  late  years  been  put  to  a  more  prac- 


32 


SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 


Small    cheer   and   great  welcome   makes    a   merry   feast. — Shakespeare. 

tical  use  than  ever  before  and  more  generally;  the 
modern  building  seldom  lacks  the  kitchen  and  dining- 
room  facilities.  There  is  no  better  way  to  get  together 
the  board  or  a  committee,  or  even  a  Bible  class,  than 
to  gather  the  men  first  around  the  table.  An  elaborate 
feed  is  not  needed — often  a  more  simple  meal  is  better 
calculated  to  introduce  the  "feast  of  reason  and  the 
flow  of  soul."  Only  a  few  examples  are  given  of  the 
many  that  might  be  named.  This  whole  matter  is 
something  of  a  science  and  a  small  handbook  on  the 
subject  might  be  very  useful. 


Boys'  Banquet 


41.     A  NEWSBOYS'  BANQUET 


A  newsboys'  banquet  was  recently  given  in  the 
Butler,  Pa.,  Association  and  attended  by  one  hundred 
and  fifty  newsboys,  very  few  of  whom  were  members. 
Among  the  speakers  present  were  men  connected  with 
the  press  of  the  city.  After  the  banquet,  games  were 
run  off  in  the  gymnasium.  One  Bible  class  of  twenty- 
five  boys  has  already  been  organized  from  this  group 
and  another  is  in  the  process.     This  is  but  another 


BANQUETS  AND  DINNERS  33 

All  people  who  have  natural  healthy  appetites  love  sweets. — Thackeray. 

illustration  of  the  spirit  of  extension  which  is  gripping 
our  Associations.  Truly  it  is  a  good  thing  for  the 
Association  to  show  itself  interested  in  this  class  of 
boys,  although  it  is  impracticable  to  deal  with  them 
in  the  same  group  with  boys  whose  needs  are  entirely 
different.  Other  Associations  have  conducted  Sunday 
afternoon  meetings  for  this  class  of  boys,  either  regu- 
larly or  occasionally ;  still  others  have  issued  tickets 
to  the  newsboys'  club  each  week.  These  tickets 
admitted  the  most  deserving  to  a  half-hour's  fun  in 
the  gymnasium  and  fifteen  minutes  in  the  swimming 
pool  between  the  hours  of  eight  and  nine  on  Saturday 
mornings ;  still  other  departments  have  furnished  the 
reading  matter  for  street  boys'  clubs.  A  few  Associa- 
tions are  directly  operating  clubs  of  this  character,  but 
most  find  that  better  work  can  be  done  by  cooperation 
with  the  clubs  already  organized  under  other  auspices, 
and  by  sending  to  them  such  assistance  as  may  be 
desired  in  the  way  of  gymnasium  leaders,  manual  train- 
ing teachers,  talkers  and  entertainers. — Association 
Boys,  Vol.  V.,  No.  2. 

42.     COLLEGE  MEN'S  DINNER 

Since  we  have  at  least  1000  college  men  in  our  mem- 
bership of  4500,  notices  are  sent  to  all  these  men 
announcing  a  dinner  to  be  held  in  a  nearby  hotel  at 
75  cents  or  $1  a  plate.  A  strong  speaker,  possibly 
known  to  the  members,  is  secured  to  give  the  address 
of  the  evening.  The  toastmaster — if  possible  the 
chairman  of  the  branch — is  secured.  In  the  after- 
dinner  speeches,  certain  representative  members  of  the 
Association  are  called  upon,  including  the  general  sec- 
retary. Music  during  the  meal  is  provided,  usually  a 
musical  trio. — R.  D.  Tucker,  West  Side,  N.  Y. 

43.     CLIFF  DWELLERS'  DINNER 

The  name  "Cliff"  was  applied  to  the  men  living  in 
the  Association  dormitory.     Sometimes  the  dinner  is 


34  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

It  is  not  the  quantity  of  the  meat,  but  the  cheerfulness  of  the  guest 
which   makes   the   feast. — Clarendon. 

termed  "The  Beefsteak  Dinner  in  Reisenweber's 
Garret,"  which  means  the  dining  room  of  a  nearby 
hotel.  Music  is  provided  and  different  men — cliff 
dwellers — take  part  in  the  after-dinner  speeches. 
Each  man  pays  for  his  own  dinner. — R.  D.  Tucker, 
West  Side,  N.  Y. 

44.     BOARD  AND   COMMITTEE   FEEDS 

Our  Association  found  that  a  banquet  or  dinner  was 
one  of  the  best  ways  to  get  out  a  full  board  or  general 
committee  meeting.  The  ladies  provided  the  meal — ■ 
we  had  good  kitchen  facilities — and  the  men  came, 
were  in  good  temper,  and  would  transact  business  in 
a  much  more  satisfactory  manner  than  at  the  ordinary 
meeting.  The  time  fixed  was  the  usual  evening  dinner 
hour.—//.  S.  N. 

45.     HIGH  SCHOOL  BANQUETS 

W.  H.  Wones,  state  secretary  for  boys  in  Wiscon- 
sin, tells  of  several  banquets  given  for  high  school 
boys.  After-dinner  speeches  by  prominent  school  and 
college  athletes,  with  the  football  coach  as  toastmaster, 
and  a  sketch  by  a  high  school  Bible  class,  are  among 
the  interesting  features  mentioned. 

46.     MEMBERS'  ANNUAL  BANQUET 

.  This  has  been  held  in  our  gymnasium.  Music  is 
furnished  during  the  meal  and  an  entertainment  such 
as  a  male  quartet  provided. — R.  D.  Tucker,  West  Side, 

n.y. 

47.     SUGGESTION  FOR  FINANCIAL  DINNER 

Have  pledge  cards  and  printed  matter  under  the 
tablecloth  at  each  place,  until  the  psychological  moment 
arrives  to  call  them  out. 


FOR  NON-MEMBERS  35 

If  we  must  be  prepared  for  those  battles  with  which  we  are  threatened 
at  least  let  us  be  well  fed. — Cervantes. 

For  Non-Members 

48.     ENTERTAINING   BOYS   FROM   A 
DEPARTMENT  STORE 

The  following  invitation  sent  personally  to  each  boy 
from  a  list  provided  by  the  concern  brought  to  the 
building  one  hundred  and  ten  of  the  one  hundred  and 
twenty-seven  boys  employed: 

You  are  cordially  invited  to  attend  an 

ENTERTAINMENT 

to  be  given  to  the 

Boys  employed  at  Woodward  &  Lothrop's  Store, 

(seventeen  years  and  under)  in  the 

BUILDING  FOR  BOYS 

of  the 

YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION 

1732  G  Street,  N.  W. 

Friday  evening,  January  12,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Admission  Free  to  Woodward  &  Lothrop's  boys  only. 

By  Invitation  Only.  Present  this  Card. 

The  boys  ranged  in  age  from  fourteen  to  seventeen 
years.  They  were  orderly  and  seemed  to  thoroughly 
enjoy  what  was  provided  for  them. 

A  committee  of  twenty-five  boy  members  wearing 
a  strip  of  red  ribbon  acted  as  hosts,  under  the  direction 
of  the  boy  chairman  of  the  social  committee. 

On  presenting  their  invitation  to  the  ticket  taker  at 
the  entrance  of  the  building,  the  boys  were  asked  to 
go  to  the  office  and  exchange  it  for  a  ticket  to  the  run- 
ning track.  This  exchange  was  made  by  a  committee 
of  boys  who  had  shipping  tags  with  the  boys'  names 
thereon  alphabetically  arranged  in  a  box.  The  tag 
having  the  boy's  name  was  tied  in  his  buttonhole  and 
he  was  sent  on  his  way  rejoicing  to  the  gymnasium 
running  track.     Here  he  was  admitted  because  he  wore 


36  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

No  man  takes  a  vacation  who  takes  his  work  with  him. — The  Saturday 
Evening   Post. 

the  tag,  while  Association  members  waited  outside  until 
the  guests  from  Woodward  &  Lothrop's  had  secured 
the  best  places  to  see  a  half-hour  program  of  basket- 
ball and  wrestling. 

The  guests  were  shown  the  swimming  pool  and  a 
little  diving  and  swimming.  They  were  then  con- 
ducted to  another  room  where  a  flashlight  picture  was 
taken  and  ice  cream  was  served.  Full  information 
regarding  Association  privileges  and  prices  was  dis- 
pensed by  the  boys'  committee,  who  distributed  litera- 
ture at  the  door.  A  five-minute  talk  was  given  by 
the  secretary  while  the  boys  were  in  the  gymnasium. 

49.     TRADE  RECEPTIONS 

Our  Association  was  quite  successful  in  conducting 
social  receptions  for  different  classes  of  men;  we  had 
them  •  for  firemen,  railroad  shopmen,  for  commercial 
and  for  professional  men,  for  members  of  the  mechan- 
ical trades,  etc.  There  were  a  number  of  large  manu- 
facturing concerns  and  we  held  a  series  of  "trade  re- 
ceptions," inviting  men  from  the  locomotive  works  or 
from  one  of  the  iron  mills,  etc.  An  attractive  invita- 
tion card  was  sent  out  for  each  reception,  containing 
the  names  of  the  committee  of  arrangements  and 
invitation  committee,  selected  entirely  from  our  mem- 
bers in  the  particular  mill  or  factory.  The  entire 
building  was  thrown  open,  simple  refreshments  were 
served,  and  a  good  program  put  on  in  the  assembly 
.  room.  Sometimes  there  would  be  an  address  by  an 
officer  of  the  company.  There  was  always  present  a 
large  representation  including  all  grades  of  employees, 
together  with  superintendents  and  foremen.  Our 
reading  room  was  well  supplied  with  technical  periodi- 
cals and  these  social  affairs  brought  the  men  in  touch 
with  the  privileges  often  for  the  first  time.  The  recep- 
tions gave  the  Association  a  good  name  with  -working 
people  generally  and  we  always  had  a  good  percentage 
of  this  class  in  our  membership. — H.  S.  N. 


FOR  NON-MEMBERS  37 

How  easy,  cosy,  merry,  comfortable  those  little  dinners  were. — 
Thackeray. 

50.  AN  EVENING  WITH  THE  PAPER 
CARRIERS 

An  evening  with  paper  carriers  was  given  at  the 
Painesville,  Ohio,  Association.  It  was  discovered 
after  carefully  going  over  the  field  that  they  were 
reaching  in  membership  only  thirty-four  per  cent  of 
the  boys  in  town.  They  discovered  that  of  the  forty 
boys  employed  as  carriers  by  the  two  daily  papers  only 
three  were  members  of  the  Association.  To  these 
forty  carriers  were  issued  two  tickets  each  and  on  a 
certain  evening  eighty  boys  gathered  in  the  Associa- 
tion, the  great  bulk  of  whom  were  not  members.  For 
an  hour  and  a  half  contests  were  conducted  in  the 
gymnasium ;  after  this  a  supper  was  given  for  the  boys 
at  the  expense  of  the  publishing  companies.  The 
effect  of  this  evening's  entertainment  has  been  very 
marked  and  the  Association  has  added  to  its  reputation 
of  being  an  organization  which  seeks  primarily  to  help 
the  community  rather  than  one  which  primarily  seeks 
to  have  the  community  help  it.  Painesville  is  only  a 
city  of  5000  people,  and  yet  it  has  a  boys'  department 
which  in  two  years  has  grown  from  fifteen  to  upwards 
of  one  hundred  boys. — Association  Boys,  Vol.  V ., 
No.  5. 

51.     RECEPTION  TO  SHOP  MEN 

We  conferred  with  representatives  of  different 
departments  in  a  large  mill  as  to  the  desirability  from 
their  viewpoint  of  giving  a  reception  to  their  employees. 
They  found  that  the  men  were  interested,  and  we  sug- 
gested that  they  appoint  a  representative  committee,  in 
whose  hands  were  left  the  details  of  the  evening.  Our 
social  committee  and  our  executives  cooperated,  of 
course.  Talent  of  various  kinds  was  found  among 
the  employees,  who  arranged  a  varied  program,  and 
another  subcommittee  from  their  number  looked  after 
advertising,  invitations,  reception  and  even  the  finances, 


38  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

To  deny  me  victuals,  even  though  Signior  Doctor  should  prescribe 
fasting,  and  say  a  thousand  things  in  its  praise,  will  deprive  me  of  my 
life   entirely. — Cervantes. 

as  they  wished  to  pay  for  their  own  refreshments.  It 
was  more  successful  than  previous  attempts,  when  we 
had  furnished  the  program  and  the  refreshments. 
This  time  we  tried  as  far  as  possible  to  make  them  feel 
that  it  was  their  affair. — B.  C.  Pond,  Paterson,  N.  J. 

52.    YOUNG  PEOPLE'S   SOCIETIES 

We  have  found  monthly  receptions,  put  on  by  the 
Young  People's  Societies  of  various  churches,  a  great 
success.  With  the  employees  of  some  shop  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  church  invited  as  special  guests  of  the 
evening,  a  large  number  of  young  people  were  brought 
together.  Refreshments  were  served  by  the  young 
people  of  the  church,  and  an  interesting  program 
carried  out.  During  the  evening  announcements  were 
made  to  all  present  concerning  the  work  of  the  church 
represented,  and  invitations  given  to  all  the  young  men 
to  attend  that  Young  People's  Society.  The  young 
men  of  the  church  were  also  brought  in  closer  contact 
with  the  good  work  of  the  Association. — T.  F.  Best, 
Hamilton,  Ont. 

53.     FOR  EMPLOYED  BOYS  IN  SUMMER 

Employed  boys  usually  have  more  time  during  the 
summer  than  any  other  season.  Special  effort  to  inter- 
est them  in  physical  department  privileges  will  usually 
be  successful.  A  special  summer  ticket  might  be 
issued,  with  some  plan  to  induce  them  to  become  regu- 
lar members  with  the  beginning  of  the  fall  work. 
Special  attention  may  be  given  employed  boys  during 
the  summer  since  the  men  are  not  as  numerous  in  the 
physical  department  as  during  the  winter. 

54.     FACTORY  RECEPTION 

These  receptions  are  held  at  the  Association.  One 
of  our  men  spends  some  time  in  the  factory  organizing 


FOR  NON-MEMBERS  39 

We  are  really  to  aim  at  results  only  as  a  dog  aims  at  catching  the 
stick  his  master  has  thrown  for  him.  He  does  not  care  for  the  stick; 
what  he  likes  is  the  running. — Rollins. 

committees  of  the  men  and  women,  who  arrange  for 
their  own  entertainment,  for  the  gymnastic  events  and 
for  refreshments.  The  events  are  composed  of  ordi- 
nary gymnastic  work,  to  which  the  physical  director 
may  add  one  or  two  special  features.  Men  guests 
participate,  ladies  occupying  the  gallery. — B.  W.  Gil- 
lett,  Haverhill,  Mass. 

55.  RECEPTION  TO  THE  DEPARTMENT 
STORES 

Men  and  boys  will  welcome  the  freedom  of  the 
building  for  an  evening.  After  being  received  by  the 
president  and  directors,  the  guests  are  cared  for  by  a 
special  committee  which  sees  that  every  privilege  is 
granted — free  bowling,  swimming,  etc.  See  Associa- 
tion Boys,  Vol.  5,  No.  1,  Entertaining  Boys  from  a 
Department  Store. 

56.     FACTORY  MEN 

West  Side,  N.  Y.,  held  a  social  reception  for  the 
men  from  an  auto-piano  factory,  at  which  place  a 
noon  shop  meeting  was  held  weekly.  Program :  One 
address  on  a  general  theme,  games,  refreshments,  and 
adjournment  for  regular  members'  Saturday  nighter. 

57.     LABOR  UNIONS  AND  LODGES 

These  organizations  will  appreciate  receptions  with 
all  building  privileges,  together  with  one  or  two  short 
addresses  by  prominent  leaders. 


The  social  spirit  is  the  pervasive  spirit  of  good  fellowship,  of  brother- 
liness,  of  good  will  toward  each  other  which  characterizes  the  member- 
ship of  an  ideal  Association. — Dr.   George  J.   Fisher. 

Men  have  been  astonished  to  find  that  they  could  have  a  good  time, 
that  is  a  pleasant  social  time,  at  a  religious  service.  What  a  commen- 
tary on  our  customary  religious  gatherings!  As  if  true  religion  and 
sociability  could  ever  be  separated! — W.  B.  Abbott. 

Nothing  will  supply  the  want  of  sunshine  to  peaches,  and  to  make 
knowledge  valuable,  you  must  have  the  cheerfulness  of  wisdom.  When- 
ever you  are  sincerely  pleased  you  are  nourished.  The  joy  of  the  spirit 
indicates  its  strength.  All  healthy  things  are  sweet  tempered.  Genius 
works  in  sport,  and  goodness  smiles  to  the  last. — Emerson. 

Men  cannot  labor  always.  They  must  have  intervals  of  relaxation. 
They  cannot  sleep  through  these  intervals.  What  are  they  to  do? 
Why,  if  they  do  not  work  nor  sleep  they  must  have  recreation.  And  if 
they  have  not  recreation  from  healthful  sources,  they  will  be  very  likely 
to  take  it  from  the  poisoned  fountains  of  intemperance;  or  if  they  have 
pleasures  which,  though  innocent,  are  forbidden  by  the  maxims  of 
public  morality,  their  very  pleasures  are  liable  to  become  poisoned 
fountains. — Orville  Dewey. 

The  great  duty  of  God's  children  is  to  love  one  another.  This  duty 
on  earth  takes  the  name  and  form  of  the  law  of  humanity.  We  are  to 
recognize  all  men  as  brethren,  no  matter  where  born  or  under  what 
sky  or  institution  or  religion  they  may  live.  Every  man  belongs  to 
the  race  and  owes  a  duty  to  mankind.  Every  nation  belongs  to  the 
family  of  nations,  and  is  to  desire  the  good  of  all.  Nations  are  to  love 
one  another Men  cannot  vote  this  out  of  the  universal  acclama- 
tion. .  .  .  .  Men  cannot,  by  combining  themselves  into  narrower  or 
larger  societies,  sever  the  sacred,  blessed  bond  which  joins  them  to 
their  kind.  The  law  of  humanity  must  reign  over  the  assertion  of  all 
human  right. — Channing. 


INDOOR  GAMES  AND  STUNTS 

58.     PEANUT  PARTY 

Especially  for  younger  boys 

Peanut  Hunt 

The  peanuts  have  been  hidden  in  various  parts  of 
the  room  before  the  boys  arrive,  preferably  by  a 
chosen  committee  of  the  boys  themselves.  The  boys 
are  allowed  a  certain  time  to  hunt.  When  time  is  up, 
each  boy  comes  and  counts  his  peanuts  out  on  the 
table  or  counter  and  leaves  them  there.  The  boy  hav- 
ing found  the  most  in  the  allotted  time  is  declared  the 
winner.  (A  prize  may  be  awarded  if  it  seems  best.) 
The  peanuts  left  on  the  table  or  counter  are  gathered 
up  for  use  in  the  playing  of  the  games  or  the  running 
of  races. 

Peanut  Race 

Place  a  certain  number  of  peanuts  in  each  of  as 
many  piles  as  there  are  contestants.  Measure  off  the 
length  of  the  course  to  be  run.  Chairs  may  be  placed 
at  each  end  or  circles  of  equal  size  drawn,  into  which 
the  peanuts  must  be  placed.  All  the  contestants  start 
at  a  given  signal  and  carry  the  peanuts  one  at  a  time 
on  a  silver  knife.  It  must  be  carried,  not  pushed  or 
rolled.  No  helps  of  any  kind  may  be  used,  such  as 
hands,  feet,  chairs  or  other  objects.  The  boy  who 
first  succeeds  in  getting  all  of  his  peanuts  to  the  chair 
or  circle  at  the  other  end  of  the  course  is  declared  the 
winner. 

Fish  Pond 

A  number  of  peanuts  should  be  fixed  before  the 
party  begins,  with  strings  tied  around  them  in  such 
a  way  that  a  loop  is  left.  Poles  with  hooks  and  lines 
made  from  bent  pins  and  strings  may  be  arranged 
by  the  boys'  committee.     The  peanuts  are  put  in  the 


42  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

I  propose  to  you  a  stunt:  that  at  your  next  social  you  try  faithfully 
to  leap  over  the  barriers  of  reserve  that  keep  you  out  of  some  one 
life.— Amos  R.  Wells. 

"pond,"  which  may  be  merely  a  space  on  the  table  or 
may  be  more  elaborately  prepared,  and  a  number  of 
boys  may  fish  at  one  time.  Time  may  be  kept  and  the 
best  fisherman  awarded  a  prize  if  thought  best.  After 
one  group  has  spent  some  time  in  fishing,  they  may  be 
invited  to  do  something  else  and  another  group  intro- 
duced to  the  fish  pond. 


Peanut  Scramble 


Peanut  Scramble 


The  title  suggests  the  nature  of  this  part  of  the  pro- 
gram. It  would  be  better  to  leave  this  event  till  the 
last  as  it  makes  considerable  dirt  on  the  floor  and  dis- 
turbs the  order  of  the  boys.  The  peanuts  are  thrown 
into  the  air  and  the  boys  see  who  can  get  the  most  in 
the  rush  when  they  light  on  the  floor.  It  produces 
great  merriment. 


GAMES  AND  STUNTS  43 

I  don't  believe  that  the  way  to  make  a  man  love  heaven  is  to  disgust 
him  with  tne  earth.  Let  us  love  all  that  is  bright  and  beautiful  and 
good   in   this   world. — Beecher. 

Some  of  the  boys  may  be  induced  to  bring  peanuts 
dressed  up  as  dolls,  especially  any  boys  who  have 
sisters  at  home  to  help  them. 

A  bag  of  peanuts  may  be  hung  up  on  a  string  and 
the  boys  may  take  turns  at  being  blindfolded  and 
striking  at  the  bag  with  a  stick.  When  the  bag  breaks, 
if  any  boy  is  successful  in  hitting  it,  the  other  boys  see 
who  can  capture  the  most  of  the  scattered  peanuts. 
The  number  of  attempts  by  each  boy  should  be 
limited. 


59.     IDEA  FOR  USING  BOYS'  NAMES 
The  Story  of  the  Second  Section  Hash 

On  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Wawayanda  in  the 
Scott  (ish)  kingdom  in  Plainheld,  lived  a  youth  named 
Henry,  son  of  a  Piemann,  who  was  also  a  Fowler, 
trapping  Birds  in  the  Ridgewoods  around  the  lake. 
He  raised  Pease  and  other  vegetables,  which  he  sold  for 
a  good  Price  to  the  Monarque  Alexis  Allen  II.  Henry 
spent  his  youth  on  the  Hill.  Early  he  arose,  washed 
himself  at  the  Fountain,  Coombs  (ed)  his  hair,  Riley 
style,  and  went  into  the  Kitchen,  Peale  (d)  some  pota- 
toes and  got  Birchenough  for  fire  and  then  he  opened 
the  Wittpenn  and  drove  the  Kynor  sheep  to  pasture 
upon  the  Summit  of  Montclair. 

This  work  caused  him  to  become  Manley,  and  every 
day  his  Powers  grew.  There  was  one  Linke  which 
bound  him  Moore  than  all  to  the  kingdom.  The 
Monarque  Alexis  had  a  fair  daughter,  Elizabeth,  and 
it  was  for  her  his  Hart  was  Aitken.  His  father 
warned  him  of  his  Low  estate.  But  he  replied,  "Pfaff, 
Howell  I  know  I  am  a  Dobson  and  cannot  Hinrich 
her.    I  can  Gano  peace — the  thought  does  Harris  me." 

Now  the  Monarque  was  Gray  and  Horse,  but  very 
Clement,  and  had  sense  in  his  Headquarters.  He  had 
offers  from  many  noblemen  for  Elizabeth's  hand,  but 


44  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

I  count  a  good  game  one  of  earth's  chief  blessings,  sent  from  heaven. 
There  are  few  ways  in  which  consecrated  ingenuity  can  be  more 
blessedly  used  than  in  the  contrivance  of  bright,  jolly  recreation. — 
Amos  R.   Wells. 

said :  "I  would  as  Leefe  marry  my  daughter  to  the 
Butler,  provided  he  were  the  Wright  kind  and 
Manley." 

Henry,  hearing  of  this,  and  wishing  to  bring  his 
name  to  royal  notice,  sent  the  Princess  a  Valentine. 
The  Princess  was  very  much  (in)  Satteled  and  the 
Monarque  noticed  this. 

"Weidn  (you)  wilt,"  he  inquired.  She  looked  as 
though  she  suffered  from  a  Tomey  (ache)  and  did 
not  reply.  But  the  Weiss  old  Monarque  called  "Doc," 
who  diagnosed  it  as  trouble  of  the  heart  and  gave  her 
a  Toddy  and  told  the  Monarque  to  send  for  Henry. 


60.     MOCK  TRIAL— COURT  HISTORY 

Three  times  has  the  great  tribunal  of  justice  con- 
vened in  the  Halls  of  Justice,  commonly  called  "The 
Lodge."  As  in  years  gone  by,  A.  Y.  Allen,  cook, 
presided  on  the  reinforced  judge's  bench. 

The  first  case  called  was  that  of  Brewster,  charged 
with  chewing  the  sleeves  out  of  Mr.  Scott's  vest  in 
1900. 

The  lawyers  for  defense  were  Watson  and  Birch- 
enough,  and  those  for  the  prosecution,  Grant  and 
Weaver. 

The  witnesses  called  by  the  defense  turned  traitors, 
and  with  the  help  of  the  lawyers  of  the  prosecution 
-the  lawyers  of  the  defense  were  routed.  Brewster 
was  proven  guilty,  and  sentenced  to  chop  wood  for 
the  dinner  next  day. 

The  second  case  wa9  the  case  that  caused  so  much 
scandal  in  the  society  circles  of  our  respectable  town — 
the  case  of  Miss  Woobe ;  defendant,  Frank  F.  Gray. 
It  was  a  breach  of  promise  suit  and  assailed  the  honor 
of  one  of  Wawayanda's  greatest  men  and  struck  right 
to  the  heart  of  our  government.  But  with  the  assist- 
ance of  Miss  Gay  Bingeman  and  Mr.  Patrick  O'Leary 


GAMES  AND  STUNTS  45 

We  need  to  learn  the  etiquette  of  heaven,  which  counts  a  want  that 
we  can  fill  the  highest  introduction;  and  we  need  to  learn  the  politeness 
of  paradise,  that  bows  reverently  before  God's  image  in  the  human 
form,  no  matter  how  sadly  sin  has  defaced  it. — Amos  R.  Wells. 

Birchenough,  Mr.  Gray  was  cleared  of  this  terrible 
charge,  Judge  Allen  awarding  judgment  to  the  defend- 
ant. 

The  third  and  last  case  was  the  most  horrible  ever 
given  in  court.  It  was  the  case  of  the  Commonwealth 
against  "Doe"  Vincenzo  Pascale. 

It  seems  that  an  overnight  party  was  camping  on 
Center  Island.  "Doc,"  under  cover  of  darkness,  took 
cotton  and  ink  and  daubed  the  faces  of  the  unsuspect- 
ing, trusting,  innocent  boys.  But  the  united  work  of 
the  lawyers  for  the  defense,  Wolf  and  Todd,  com- 
pletely overwhelmed  the  great  lawyer  Esher,  and 
"Doc"  was  adjudged  not  guilty. 

The  great  seat  of  judgment  is  now  vacant  until  1910. 
— Wawayanda  Whirlwind. 


61.     MIND  READING 

(1) 

This  game  may  be  played  by  any  number  of  persons. 
Have  a  slip  of  paper  passed  to  each  person,  requesting 
each  to  write  the  name  of  any  city,  person  or  country, 
or  any  sentence  he  desires,  upon  the  slip.  The  slips 
are  then  folded  and  collected  and  the  one  who  acts  as 
medium  takes  one  slip  of  paper  at  a  time,  holds  it  to 
his  forehead,  and  after  a  moment's  thought  calls  out 
the  name  that  is  supposed  to  be  written  on  the  paper. 
The  trick  is  to  have  an  accomplice  who,  instead  of 
folding  his  paper  like  the  rest  will  fold  it  in  a  different 
shape.  The  medium  and  this  person  have  agreed  upon 
what  word  or  sentence  shall  be  written.  The  medium 
when  reading  his  first  paper  will  call  off  what  was 
written  by  his  confederate,  and  ask,  "Who  wrote  this?" 
The  confederate  will  immediately  say,  "I  did."  He 
opens  the  paper  and  this  gives  him  his  cue  for  the  next 
word  or  sentence. 


46  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Games    lubricate   the    mind   and    body. — Franklin. 

(2) 

Place  three  articles  on  a  table  in  the  center  of  a 
room  and  then  announce  to  those  present  that  they 
may  touch  any  of  the  three  articles  while  you  are  out 
of  the  room,  and  when  you  return  you  can  tell  which 
article  they  touched. 

The  trick  is  to  have  some  one  or  two  persons  assist 
you  by  having  a  piece  of  a  straw  which  they  place  in 
their  mouth.  The  one  who  goes  out  of  the  room 
receives  his  signal  from  the  one  who  has  the  straw  in 
his  mouth.  If  the  center  article  has  been  touched,  the 
straw  will  be  in  the  center  of  his  mouth.  If  the  others, 
it  will  be  either  in  the  right  or  left  side,  according  to 
the  article  that  has  been  touched.  The  straw  need 
only  protrude  one  quarter  of  an  inch  to  give  the  signal. 
If  none  of  the  articles  have  been  touched  the  straw  will 
not  show  at  all. 

62.     PENNY  WISE 

Each  player  is  provided  with  a  bright  new  penny  (of 
design  prior  to  1909),  a  piece  of  paper  and  a  pencil. 
On  the  paper  are  written  beforehand,  or  to  dictation, 
the  following  requirements,  without  the  answers,  of 
course.  The  player  who  has  the  largest  number  of 
correct  answers  wins. 

Find  on  the  Penny 

-The  name  of  a  song.    America. 

A  privilege.     Liberty. 

A  part  of  Indian  corn.     Ear. 

A  part  of  a  hill.     Brow. 

Something  denoting  self.     Eye   (I). 

Part  of  a  door.     Lock  (of  hair). 

A  weapon  of  war.    Arrow. 

An  act  of  protection.     Shield. 

A  gallant.     Beau   (bow). 

A  punishment.     Stripes. 

Part  of  a  plant.     Leaf. 

A  piece  of  jewelry.     Ring. 


GAMES  AND  STUNTS  47 

A    college    joke    to    cure    the    dumps. — Swift. 

A  nut.     Acorn. 

A  musical  term.     Bar. 

An  occupation.     Milling. 

A   foreign   fruit.     Date. 

Trimming  for  a  hat.     Feather. 

What  ships  sail  on.     Sea  (C). 

A  perfume.     Scent  (cent). 

A  religious  edifice.     Temple. 

A  messenger.     One  sent    (cent). 

A  method  of  voting.     Ayes  and  Noes  (eyes  and  nose). 

A  Chinese  beverage.     Tea   (T). 

A  gaudy  flower.     Tulips   (two  lips). 

Comfort.     Ease  (E  E). 

A  small  animal.     Hare   (hai.r). 

A  term  of  marriage.     United  State. 

An  ancient  honor.     Wreath. 

One  of  the  first   families.     Indian. 

— From  "Games  for  the  Playground,  Home,  School 
and  Gymnasium,"  Jessie  H.  Bancroft. 


63.     MOCK  COLLEGE  ATHLETIC  MEET 

Divide  the  boys  into  four  groups  representing  four 
popular  colleges  or  schools,  with  ribbons,  colors  and 
pennants.  Choose  the  best  boys  present  as  leaders  of 
the  four  groups  and  give  each  group  live  minutes  to 
prepare  (in  separate  rooms)  yells  and  songs  appro- 
priate to  the  occasion.  The  result  of  the  yells  and 
songs  will  be  judged  by  a  corps  of  judges  and  marked 
on  the  score  board  on  a  basis  of  4,  3,  2  and  1  points 
respectively. 

Other  events  such  as  fake  potato  race,  egg  and  spoon 
race,  and  parlor  football  may  be  used,  or  other  races 
suited  to  the  room.  The  potato  race  may  be  run  as  an 
ordinary  potato  race,  using  checkers  as  potatoes,  and 
making  the  boys  walk  instead  of  run,  putting  a  penalty 
on  running. 

The  parlor  football  game  is  a  good  event  with  which 
to  end  the  games.  You  may  use  a  regulation  ping 
pong  board  and  improvise  goal  posts,  having  the  boys 


48  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

I  am  a  great  friend  to  public  amusements  for  they  keep  people  from 
vice. — Samuel  Johnson. 

in  teams  of  ten  kneel  on  the  floor  around  the  table  and 
blow  the  ping  pong  ball  through  the  goals. 

Have  each  event  count  a  number  of  points  and  have 
scorer  on  big  blackboard  announce  points  after  each 
event. 

Individual  prizes  may  be  given  and  team  prizes  as 
well. 

The  above  has  been  tried  in  a  number  of  cases  writh 
excellent  results,  and  is  adaptable  to  any  age.  In  one 
city  the  principals  of  the  two  high  schools  acted  as 
judge  and  referee. — W.  S.  Reed,  Newark,  N.  J. 


64.     INITIAL  GAME 

For  this  game  it  will  be  necessary  to  prepare  slips 
of  paper,  one  for  each  player.  At  the  head  of  each 
paper  are  written  the  initials  of  some  person  who  will 
be  present;  under  this  a  series  of  questions  which  the 
player  drawing  the  paper  is  to  answer.  The  papers 
are  put  in  a  box  or  hat  and  drawn  by  the  players,  or 
held  in  the  hand  with  the  initials  concealed  and  drawn 
in  that  way.  A  certain  time  may  be  allowed,  if  de- 
sired, for  the  answering  of  the  questions. 

The  answers  must  be  written  in  each  case  imme- 
diately below  the  question,  must  consist  only  of  as 
many  words  as  there  are  initials  at  the  top  of  the  sheet, 
and  the  words  of  the  answer  must  begin  with  the 
initials  in  their  proper  order. 

Examples  of  Questions 

1.  To  whom  does  this  paper  belong?     (Henry  B.  Brown.) 

2.  What  is  his  character?     (Horrid,  but  bearable.) 

3.  What  kind  of  hair  has  he?     (Heavy,  burnished  brown.) 

4.  What  kind  of  eyes  has  he?     (Heavenly,  bright  blue.) 

5.  What  books  does  he  prefer?     (Handsomely  bound  biog- 

raphies.) 

6.  What  animals  does  he  prefer?     (Howling  big  bears.) 

7.  What     is     his     chief     occupation?      (Hammering    bulky 

boxes.) 


GAMES  AND  STUNTS  49 

A  poorer  game,  in  which  all  can  heartily  join,  is  far  better  than  a 
better  game  that  appeals  only  to  a  few. — Amos   R.   Wells. 

8.  What    do    you    surmise    regarding    his    future?     (He'd 

better  beware.) 

9.  What    does    he    think    of    the    opposite    sex?     (Hebes! 

bright  beauties.) 
10.     What    does    he    think    of    the    world    in    general?     (He's 
becoming  bewildered.) 

— From  "Games  for  the  Playground,  Home,  School 
and  Gymnasium,"  Jessie  H.  Bancroft. 

65.     SKETCHES 

The  game  here  described  for  use  with  history  may 
be  used  simply  as  a  diversion  in  describing  animals  or 
any  inanimate  objects  ;  or  it  may  be  used  to  correlate 
with  English  (authors),  picture  study,  etc. 

Each  player  is  provided  with  a  sheet  of  paper  and 
pencil  and  writes  a  description  of  some  historical  char- 
acter;  the  object  being  to  give  a  description  that  shall 
be  perfectly  truthful  and  yet  puzzling  or  misleading 
for  the  other  players  who  are  to  guess  the  identity  of 
the  character  in  the  writer's  mind. 

One  player  is  called  on  to  read  his  description.  The 
other  players  may  have  the  privilege  of  asking  ques- 
tions that  may  be  answered  by  Yes  or  No  only;  but  it 
is  considered  much  more  of  an  honor  to  guess  cor- 
rectly without  this  assistance.  The  one  guessing  the 
character  correctly  reads  his  description  next.  A 
description  for  instance  might  read: 

The  person  I  would  describe  was  a  very  tall  man ;  very 
vigorous ;  used  an  ax  on  occasion ;  had  much  to  do  with  legis- 
lators ;  was  widely  known  outside  of  his  native  country,  and 
has  been  the  subject  of  many  biographies. 

As  this  description  would  apply  equally  to  Washing- 
ton, Lincoln,  Gladstone  and  several  others  who  might 
be  mentioned,  there  is  opportunity  for  considerable 
guessing  before  the  right  character  is  found. — From 
"Games  for  the  Playground,  Home,  School  and  Gym- 
nasium," Jessie  H.  Bancroft. 


50  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

By  sports   like   these   are   all   their   cares   beguiled. — Goldsmith. 

66.     THE  LONG  REACH 

Chalk  a  line  on  the  floor  and  then  place  the  toes  of 
both  feet  on  it,  being  careful  that  they  do  not  pass 
beyond.  Then  throw  forward  either  the  right  or  left 
hand,  no  matter  which,  so  far  and  no  farther  than  you 
can  easily  spring  back  from  and  readily  regain  your 
upright  position,  without  either  moving  your  feet  from 
the  line,  touching  the  floor  with  the  hands  in  throwing 
them  forward,  or  scraping  the  floor  with  them  in  the 
spring  back.  When  you  have  in  this  manner  ascer- 
tained the  utmost  distance  to  which  you  can  stretch 
and  from  which  you  can  recover,  without  scraping  the 
hands  or  altering  the  position  of  the  feet,  you  must 
stretch  as  far  forward  as  you  possibly  can  and,  while 
supporting  the  body  with  one  hand,  chalk  a  line  on  the 
floor  with  the  other.  You  may,  in  order  to  bring  your 
body  lower,  move  your  feet  backward  from  the  line 
marked  on  the  floor  and  by  so  doing  you  will  be  enabled 
to  make  a  much  greater  stretch  than  you  could  other- 
wise have  done.  If  you  can  manage  to  chalk  two  lines, 
your  own  length  apart,  it  is  a  tolerably  good  stretch, 
but  with  a  little  practice  you  may  chalk  considerably 
further  than  that  measure.  Some  persons,  in  per- 
forming this  feat,  rest  upon  their  elbows  instead  of 
their  hands. — Indoor  and  Outdoor  Gymnastic  Games, 
A.  G.  Spalding  &  Bros.,  New  York. 

67.     RECOGNITION 

Each  player  is  given  a  card  or  slip  prepared  with 
the  following  questions,  or  the  list  may  be  dictated  at 
the  time. 

What  Famous  Persons,  Historical  or  Mythical,  Do  These 
Objects   Suggest? 

1.  Hatchet?     (George  Washington.) 

2.  A  rail  fence?     (Abraham  Lincoln.) 

3.  A  kite?     (Benjamin   Franklin.) 

4.  A   muddy   cloak?     (Sir   Walter   Raleigh.) 

5.  A  lonely  island?     (Robinson  Crusoe.) 


GAMES  AND  STUNTS  51 

Every  one  can  master  a  grief  but  he  that  has  it. — Shakespeare. 

6.  A  burning  bush?     (Moses.) 

7.  A  ruff?     (Queen  Elizabeth.) 

8.  A  glass  slipper?     (Cinderella.) 

9.  An  apple?     (William  Tell.) 

10.  A  silver  lamp.     (Aladdin.) 

11.  A  smooth,  round  stone?     (David.) 

12.  Long  hair?     (Samson.) 

13.  A  dove?     (Noah.) 

14.  A  pomegranate  seed?     (Persephone.) 

15.  A  spider  web?     (Robert  Bruce.) 

16.  A  key?     (Bluebeard.) 

17.  A  wolf?     (Red  Riding  Hood.) 

18.  A  steamboat?     (Robert  Fulton.) 

— From  "Games  for  the  Playground,  Home,  School 
and  Gymnasium/'  Jessie  H.  Bancroft. 

68.     "JENKINS  UP" 

Divide  the  players  into  two  parts,  each  occupying 
opposite  sides  of  a  table,  with  a  leader  for  each.  One 
side  has  a  coin  which  is  passed,  under  the  table,  from 
hand  to  hand.  The  leader  of  the  opposite  side  sud- 
denly says :  "Jenkins  up !"  whereupon  the  side  having 
the  coin  must  all  raise  their  hands  at  once,  high  above 
the  table,  and  with  fists  closed.  The  leader  of  the 
opposite  side,  after  the  uplifted  hands  have  been  re- 
viewed, says,  "Jenkins  down !"  and  every  one  on  the 
side  holding  the  coin  must  immediately  slap  both  hands 
down  flat  upon  the  table,  palms  down.  The  leader  of 
the  guessing  party  (who  may  either  give  orders  himself 
or  appoint  a  captain  on  his  side)  calls  for  the  lifting 
of  one  hand  at  a  time,  specifying  which  hand  he  desires 
raised,  at  which  the  player  raises  the  hand  designated. 
The  object  of  the  game  is  to  guess  which  hand  has  the 
coin,  and  having  caused  every  other  hand  to  be  raised 
from  the  table,  to  leave  that  until  the  last.  Should 
the  leader  of  the  guessing  side  order  the  hand  that 
holds  the  coin  to  be  raised,  the  score  is  lost  to  the 
guessing  side  and  gained  to  the  side  holding  the  coin, 
to  the  amount  of  one  point  for  each  hand  left  down 


52  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

If  you  hear  your  choice  of  amusements  criticised,  go  straight  to  the 
critics  and  ask  them  to  suggest  some  amusements  for  the  next  social. — 
Amos  R.   Wells. 

after  the  one  is  raised  which  holds  the  coin.  The  side 
wins  which  first  scores  twenty-five,  fifty,  or  any  de- 
sired number  of  points. 

69.     A  CAT  PARTY 

Each  player  is  provided  with  a  sheet  of  paper  on 
which  are  written  the  following  questions.  Each  ques- 
tion is  to  be  answered  with  a  word,  of  which  the  first 
syllable  is  cat.  The  player  wins  who  writes  the  largest 
number  of  correct  answers,  the  list  of  answers  being 
read  by  the  host  at  the  close  of  the  time  allowed  for 
the  game. 

Examples  of  Questions 

1.  What  sort  of  cat  is  allowed  in  a  library?     (Catalog.) 

2.  What  sort  of  cat  makes  you  think  of  reflected  sounds? 

(Catacoustics.) 

3.  WThat    sort    of    cat    unites    well    with    a    toilet    article? 

(Catacomb.) 

4.  What     sort     of     cat     requires    a     physician's    attention? 

(Catalepsy.) 

5.  What  sort  of  cat  is   feared  by  soldiers?     (Catapult.) 

6.  What  sort  of  cat  is  bad  for  the  eyes?     (Cataract.) 

7.  What  sort  of  cat  is  to  be  dreaded?     (Catastrophe.) 

8.  What  sort  of  cat  is  allowed  on  the  table?     (Catsup.) 

9.  What  sort  of  cat  goes  to  Sunday-school?     (Catechism.) 

10.  What  sort  of  cat  do  girls  most  detest?     (Caterpillar.) 

11.  What  sort  of  cat  makes  small  boys  weep?     (Cat-o'-nine- 

tails.) 

— From  "Games  for  the  Playground,  Home,  School 
and  Gymnasium,"  Jessie  H.  Bancroft. 

70.     FOR  THE  SWIMMING   POOL 

This  list  of  events  may  be  carried  through  in 
the  swimming  tanks :  relay  race ;  scratch  race ;  handi- 
cap race;  hurdle  race;  breast  stroke;  side  stroke;  back 
stroke ;  candle  race  ;  egg  and  spoon  race ;  tub  race  ; 
egg-blowing ;  inverted  tub ;  under  water,  for  distance ; 
under  water,    for  time ;   plunge    for   distance ;   racing 


GAMES  AND  STUNTS 


S3 


We  cannot  educate  our  grandmother,  we  say;  but  there  are  grand- 
mothers whom  we  can  educate.  The  children  of  today  are  the  grand- 
mothers of  the  future;  we  can  educate  them. — Rollins. 

across  tank;  novelty  race  (various  kinds);  steeple- 
chase ;  under  and  over  water  race ;  tandem ;  three- 
legged;  walking  on  bottom  (with  aid  of  weights); 
top  and  bottom;  ducking,  in  deep  water;  tug-of-war, 
in  deep  water;  wrestling,  in  shallow  water;  bobbing 
for    corks ;    turning-   and   pushing    across   tank   under 


water ; 


diving 


contest ;     hurdle     diving, 


height 


or 


A  Fine  Pool 


distance ;  hoop  diving,  height  or  distance ;  diving  for 
plates ;  hands  tied ;  feet  tied ;  hands  and  feet  tied  ( for 
experts);  tag;  water  polo;  soccer  polo  (the  English 
water  polo). — Joseph  Nill,  Manager  of  West  Side, 
New  York,  Swimming  Team. 


71.     "BUZ" 

This  is  a  very  old  and  well-known  game.  The 
players  sit  in  a  circle  and  count,  beginning  at  one  and 
going  to  a  hundred,  which  must,  if  possible,  be  reached. 
But  the  number  seven,   any  number   made  up   of   a 


54  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Honest    labor    bears    a    lovely    face. — Dekker. 

seven,  such  as  17,  27,  37,  etc.,  and  any  number  which 
is  a  product  of  seven,  such  as  14,  21,  28,  etc.,  all  must 
be  substituted  by  the  word  "Buz."  When  the  players 
reach  seventy-one  they  must  say  "Buz  one"  and  for 
seventy-two,  "Buz  two,"  etc. 
Rules  of  the  game : 

1.  Buz  is  said  for  every  seven  or  multiple  of  seven. 

2.  Any  one  breaking  the  first  rule  pays  a  forfeit  and  is  out 
of  the  game,  and  must  sit  silent. 

3.  Immediately  after  a  seven  or  multiple  has  been  named, 
the  counting  may  begin  again ;  the  one  sitting  on  the  left  of 
the  expelled  member  beginning  again  with  one. 

4.  If  any  player  forgets  his  number  while  the  counting  is 
going  on,  or  miscounts  after  a  Buz,  he  pays  a  forfeit,  but  he 
is  not  out  of  the  game.  This  game  must  be  played  quickly, 
and  it  will  be  found  that  Buz  will  so  often  be  forgotten  in  its 
right  place  that  the  circle  win  continually  diminish  in  size, 
until  it  ends  sometimes  in  a  pair,  and,  as  after  every  blunder 
the  count  begins  again  at  one,  it  is  a  matter  of  some  difficulty 
to  reach  one  hundred.  We  recommend  this  game  as  a  very 
merry  and  pleasant  one. 

72.     AUTHORS'  INITIALS 

Each  player  is  given  a  piece  of  paper  on  which  are 
written  various  groups  or  series  of  words,  each  group 
descriptive  of  some  author,  and  each  word  beginning 
with  one  of  his  initials  in  regular  order.  The  player 
who  guesses  the  largest  number  of  authors  wins.  The 
following  are  suggested  and  others  may  be  devised : 

1.  Juveniles  firmly  conquered   (James  Fenimore  Cooper). 

2.  Name  honored    (Nathaniel   Hawthorne). 

3.  Bright  humor  (Bret  Harte). 

4.  One  wholesome  humorist  (Oliver  Wendell  Holmes). 

5.  Really  lasting  stories    (Robert  Louis  Stevenson). 

6.  Cheerful  laborer   (Charles  Lamb). 

7.  Tender,   brilliant   author    (Thomas   Bailey   Aldrich). 

8.  Heroism  wisely  lauded  (Henry  Wadsworth  Longfellow). 

9.  Just,  gentle  writer   (John  Greenleaf  Whittier). 

10.  Poetry  bridged  skyward   (Percy  Bysshe  Shelley). 

11.  Clever  delineator    (Charles   Dickens). 

12.  Rare  brain    (Robert  Browning). 

13.  Weird  imagination   (Washington  Irving). 

— From  "Games  for  the  Playground,  Home,  School 
and  Gymnasium,"  Jessie  H.  Bancroft. 


GAMES  AND  STUNTS  55 

The  noblest  mind  the  best  content  has. — Spenser. 

73.     THINK  OF  A  NUMBER 

Tell  your  friend  to  think  of  any  number  he  pleases, 
but  not  to  tell  you  what  it  is.  Then  tell  him  to  double 
it-  When  he  has  done  that  let  him  add  an  even  number 
to  it,  which  you  yourself  must  give  him;  after  doing 
this,  he  must  halve  the  whole,  then  from  what  is  left, 
take  away  the  number  he  first  thought  of.  When  he 
shall  arrive  thus  far,  if  his  calculations  have  been  all 
made  correctly,  you  will  be  able  to  tell  him  the  exact 
remainder,  which  will  simply  be  the  half  of  the  even 
number  you  told  him  to  add  to  his  own. 


Number  thought  of 

Doubled 

Even  number  added 

15 

30 

8 

2  )38 

Halved 

Subtract 

19 
15 

4  half  of  8 

74.     SKIN  THE  SNAKE 

Players  stand  in  line  at  front  dress.  Each  player 
stoops  over,  putting  his  right  hand  between  his  legs 
and  grasping  the  left  hand  of  the  player  behind  him. 
At  a  given  signal,  the  last  man  in  line  lies  down  on 
his  back,  putting  his  feet  first  between  the  legs  of  the 
player  in  front  of  him.  The  line  walks  backward 
striding  upon  the  bodies  of  those  behind,  and  imme- 
diately lying  down  upon  having  no  more  to  stride. 
Upon  completing  the  transformation,  all  are  lying 
on  their  backs.  The  last  man  who  lies  down  now 
rises  to  his  feet  and  strides  forward  up  the  line,  the 
rest  following  as  fast  as  their  turns  come.  During  all 
these  manceuvers  the  grasp  of  the  hands  has  not  been 
broken.  Performing  rapidly,  this  presents  a  peculiar 
spectacle,  yet  is  very  simple. 


56  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

There  is  such  a  thing  as  too  much  kindness;  as  if  one  should  toast 
the  bread  for  a  bird,  or  spread  with  mayonnaise  the  lettuce  for  a  rabbit. 
— Rollins. 


Ii). 


KNIGHTS  OF  THE  SACRED  WHISTLE 


This  may  be  played  by  any  number  of  persons.  The 
object  is  to  have  one  or  two  persons,  according  to  the 
number  in  the  crowd,  informed  that  they  are  to  be 
initiated  into  the  Knights  of  the  Sacred  Whistle. 
Show  them  a  small  whistle  and  tell  them  that  in  order 
to  become  members  they  must  find  this  whistle.  You 
then  pretend  to  hand  the  whistle  to  one  of  the  members 
of  the  party.  Place  around  the  victim's  shoulders  an 
apron  or  some  garment,  and  have  attached  to  the  back 
of  it  a  small  whistle  on  a  piece  of  string.  The  trick  is 
for  some  of  the  members  to  blow  the  whistle  behind 
the  person's  back,  immediately  dropping  it,  and  when 
he  turns  the  person  on  the  other  side  will  blow,  all 
standing  in  a  circle,  with  the  person  who  is  being 
"initiated"  in  the  center.  He  will  be  kept  guessing 
for  some  time  before  he  finds  out  where  the  whistle  is 
located. 


76.     MUSICAL  INSTRUMENTS 

This  game  may  be  played  with  any  number  of  per- 
sons. Pick  out  from  one  to  twelve  persons,  according 
to  the  size  of  the  crowd ;  have  them  go  out  of  the  room. 
These  are  to  act  as  musicians.  Select  four  or  five  to 
act  as  judges.  The  judges  are  instructed  to  name 
every  instrument  excepting  those  that  the  musicians 
are  trying  to  imitate.  Call  in  two  or  three  of  the 
musicians  at  a  time  and  instruct  them  that  they  are  to 
play  upon  some  imaginary  musical  instrument.  Place 
them  before  the  judges  and  tell  them  the  judges  will 
try  to  guess  the  name  of  the  instrument.  After  they 
have  played  for  some  time,  ask  the  crowd  to  tell  the 
musicians  what  they  are  playing.  They  will  respond 
very  heartily,  "Fools  for  the  crowd." — C.  A.  Mc- 
Laughlin, St.  Louis,  Mo. 


GAMES  AND  STUNTS  57 

Think  naught  a  trifle,  though  it  small  appears; 
Small  sands  the  mountain,  moments  make  the  year, 
And  trifles  life.— Young. 

77.     WILD  ANIMALS 

This  game  may  be  played  with  any  number  of  per- 
sons. Have  a  room  that  can  be  darkened,  and  place 
in  the  room  in  an  obscure  corner  a  looking-glass. 
Have  two  persons  in  the  room  known  as  the  keepers  of 
wild  animals.  When  a  person  enters  the  room  you 
ask  him  what  animal  he  desires  to  see.  After  he 
mentions  the  name  of  the  animal,  the  keeper  describes 
this  animal  to  correspond  as  nearly  as  possible  with 
the  person.  Then  he  imitates  the  animal,  and  leads 
his  subject  to  a  position  in  front  of  the  looking-glass. 
He  then  tells  the  other  keeper  to  bring  forth  the  animal 
called  for.  This  is  a  signal  for  some  one  to  turn  on 
the  lights,  and  the  victim  beholds  his  own  image  in 
the  mirror. 

78.     TO  START  SOMETHING 

After  the  men  have  gathered,  give  each  an  envelope 
containing  a  card  bearing  one  of  the  following  names : 
Knockers,  Boosters,  Joshers,  Pawnees,  Flub-Dubs, 
Leans,  Fats,  etc.  Each  name  represents  a  gang.  If 
you  desire  seven  in  each  gang,  give  out  seven  Boosters, 
seven  Fats,  etc.  The  crowd  will  have  to  be  estimated 
somewhat  in  advance.  When  the  cards  are  distributed, 
explain  that  there  are  six  others  bearing  the  name 
on  the  card  each  holds,  and  that  the  groups  will  imme- 
diately convene.  After  the  pandemonium  is  over  and 
the  gangs  are  organized  give  them  five  minutes  to  get 
up  a  yell,  song,  stunt  or  story.  Award  a  prize  to  the 
gang  that  presents  the  best  of  these.  Proceed  with 
plans  for  membership  increase,  or  whatever  is  desired. 
— L.  A.  Howe,  Wilmerding,  Pa. 

79.     ESKIMO  RACE  ON  ALL  FOURS 

The  performers  stand  with  hands  and  feet  on  the 
floor,  the  knees  stiff,  the  hands  clinched  and  resting  on 


58  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

The  saddest  thing  is  to  be  endowed  with  liberty  to  do  as  we  please, 
and  then  to  please  to  do  the  wrong  thing. — Rollins. 

the  knuckles.  The  elbows  should  be  stiff.  In  this 
position  a  race  is  run,  or  rather  "hitched,"  over  a  course 
that  will  not  easily  be  too  short  for  the  performers. 
This  is  a  game  of  the  Eskimos,  reported  by  Lieutenant 
Schwatka. 

ESKIMO  JUMPING  RACE 

Fold  the  arms  across  the  breast  with  the  knees  rigid 
and  the  feet  close  together.  Jump  forward  in  short 
jumps  of  an  inch  or  two.  This  is  the  regular  form  of 
one  of  the  games  of  the  Eskimos,  reported  by  Lieu- 
tenant Schwatka. — Games  for  the  Playground,  Home, 
School  and  Gymnasium,  Jessie  H.  Bancroft. 

80.     THREE  TRICKS 

Stand  against  the  wall  with  the  left  side,  the  cheek, 
hip  and  foot  touching  it;  then  try  lifting  the  right  leg 
without  moving  the  body  away  from  the  wall. 

Place  a  boy  with  his  back  against  the  wall,  his  heels 
firmly  against  it.  Lay  a  half-dollar  on  the  floor  in 
front  of  him  about  a  foot  away  from  his  toes,  and  tell 
him  it  is  his  if  he  can  pick  it  up  without  moving  his 
heels  from  against  the  wall. 

Another  trick  is  to  hold  the  hands  across  the  breast, 
the  elbows  pointing  straight  to  right  and  left,  and 
press  firmly  together  the  tips  of  the  index  fingers. 
Invite  any  one  present  to  pull  the  fingers  apart  by 
taking  hold  of  the  arms  and  pulling  toward  right  and 
left.  You  will  find  that  the  strongest  person  cannot 
force  your  fingers  apart. 

81.     PIANO  PLAYERS'  CONTEST 

Under  the  direction  of  the  social  committee,  which 
is  composed  of  twenty-five  of  our  members,  we  invited 
all  the  professional  piano  players  in  this  city  and  vicin- 
ity to  participate  in  a  professional  piano  players'  con- 


GAMES  AND  STUNTS  59 

A  man  who  is  true  to  himself  has  neither  time  nor  inclination  to  be 
false  to  others. — The  Saturday  Evening  Post. 

test.  There  were  eight  entries,  and  we  charged  an 
admission  fee  of  twenty-five  cents.  The  players  paid 
$1  to  guarantee  their  appearance,  which  was  re- 
turned to  them  the  night  of  the  contest.  The  Associa- 
tion gave  three  medals  as  prizes,  and  the  contest 
proved  to  be  very  successful.  The  playing  was  done 
behind  a  curtain,  and  the  audience  voted.  One  player- 
piano  was  introduced. — H.  G.  Williamson,  Cincinnati, 
Ohio. 

82.     COTTON  BALL  BATTLE 

A  simple  game  requiring  little  preparation  but  giving 
unlimited  opportunity  for  letting  off  excess  energy  is 
"The  Cotton  Ball  Battle."  The  party  is  divided  into 
two  equal  squads.  At  the  beginning  of  the  game  the 
squads  separate  and  line  up  against  opposite  walls.  In 
front  of  each  squad  is  placed  a  sufficient  number  of 
cotton  balls,  about  three  or  four  inches  in  diameter. 
At  the  word  "go"  the  fusillade  begins.  The  players 
are  then  permitted  to  enter  the  enemy's  <  territory. 
After  the  squads  intermingle  so  much  that  in  the  ex- 
citement of  the  game  it  becomes  impossible  to  tell 
which  side  a  man  is  on,  put  a  lively  finish  to  the  game. 
— H.  F.  Bretthauer,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

83.     HIGH  JUMP— BLINDFOLDED 

Blindfold  a  person,  then  place  an  obstacle  in  front 
of  him  on  the  floor  about  two  feet  high;  have  some 
small  object  to  put  on  top  so  as  to  raise  it  each  time 
(small  blocks  or  books  will  answer).  Seat  him  in 
front  of  the  obstacle,  let  him  feel  it  with  his  hands, 
and  then  tell  him  to  jump  over  it  without  knocking  off 
any  of  the  small  objects.  Just  as  he  gets  ready  to 
jump,  remove  the  obstacle  from  before  him,  as  he 
makes  a  big  effort  to  jump  over  the  obstacle. _  The 
audience  applauds  his  efforts  and  the  obstacle  is  imme- 
diately placed  in  front  of  him  again  with  one  or  two 


60  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Neither   a   borrower   nor   a   lender   be; 

For   loan   oft   loses   both   itself   and   friend. — Shakespeare. 

objects  added,  thus  making  it  a  little  higher.  Repeat 
this  several  times,  then  remove  the  blindfold  and  show 
him  what  he  has  been  jumping  over. — C.  A.  McLaugh- 
lin, St.  Louis,  Mo. 

84.     "THUMBS  UP" 

This  is  the  old  game  of  "Simon  Says,"  the  leader 
and  players  sitting  around  a  table,  or  in  a  circle  about 
the  room,  with  fists  closed  and  thumbs  upright.  The 
leader  says  :  "Simon  says,  'thumbs  down,'  "  at  the  same 
time  turning  his  own  hands  over.  The  players  do 
likewise.  The  leader  says :  "Wiggle  waggle,"  or  "Up," 
but  if  he  fails  to  repeat  the  words  "Simon  says,"  and 
any  one  in  the  party  obeys  his  order,  that  one  making 
the  error  must  pay  a  forfeit.  Or  should  the  leader 
say:  "Simon  says  'thumbs  up'"  or  "Simon  says 
'thumbs  down/  "  and  not  do  it  himself,  and  any  one  of 
the  players  should  do  it,  that  player  must  pay  a  forfeit. 

85.     STRENGTH  TEST  WITH  GLASS  OF 
WATER 

Take  a  glass  of  water,  giving  it  to  a  medium  sized 
person.  Have  him  hold  it  in  his  left  hand.  Select 
four  or  five  good,  strong  persons  and  have  each  take 
hold  of  the  left  forearm.  These  persons  are  to  be 
known  as  strong  men,  and  the  trick  is  to  keep  the 
person  holding  the  glass  from  drinking  the  water. 
When  they  are  all  ready,  the  one  who  holds  the  glass 
of  water  makes  one  or  two  fake  attempts  to  get  his 
hand  to  his  mouth,  then  quickly  with  his  right  hand 
he  takes  the  glass  of  water,  turns  his  head  and  drinks 
it. — C.  A.  McLaughlin,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

86.     MAGIC  GIFT 

Take  a  little  common  white  wax  or  beeswax,  and 
stick   it   on   your   thumb.     Then,    speaking   to    a   by- 


GAMES  AND  STUNTS  61 

Good  sense,  which  only  is  the  gift  of  heaven, 

And   though    no   science,   fairly   worth    the   seven. — Pope. 

stander,  you  show  him  sixpence,  and  tell  him  you  will 
put  it  into  his  hand.  Press  it  down  on  the  palm  of  his 
hand  with  your  waxed  thumb,  talking  to  him  the  while, 
and  looking  him  in  the  face.  Suddenly  take  away  your 
thumb,  and  the  coin  will  adhere  to  it.  Close  his  hand, 
and  he  will  be  under  the  impression  that  he  holds  the 
sixpence,  as  the  sensation  caused  by  the  pressing  still 
remains.  You  may  tell  him  he  is  at  liberty  to  keep 
the  sixpence,  but  on  opening  his  hand  to  look  at  it  he 
will  find  to  his  astonishment  that  it  is  gone. 

87.     DOG  FIGHT 

Two  players  place  themselves  on  their  hands  and 
knees,  facing  each  other,  about  three  feet  apart. 
Place  an  endless  strap  or  anything  that  will  not  cut 
into  the  flesh,  over  the  heads  (which  must  be  kept  up 
and  back).  At  the  word  "Go"  the  players  pull  against 
each  other  until  one  of  them  is  pulled  off  the  mat,  or 
his  head  pulled  forward,  thereby  releasing  the  strap, 
thus  showing  the  other  to  be  the  victor. — Y.  M.  C.  A. 
Young  Men's  Era,  1893,  page  341.  Indoor  and  Out- 
door Gymnastic  Games,  A.  G.  Spalding  &  Bros.,  New 
York  City. 

88.     WATER  AND  CRACKER  RACE 

Take  an  ordinary  glass  filled  with  water  and  place 
it  on  a  table.  At  the  opposite  side  have  an  ordinary 
soda  cracker.  Select  two  persons  and  let  them  be 
seated,  one  in  front  of  the  glass  and  the  other  in  front 
of  the  cracker.  Give  the  one  who  is  to.  drink  the  water 
an  ordinary  teaspoon.  The  trick  is  to  eat  the  soda 
cracker  before  the  one  with  the  teaspoon  drinks  the 
glass  of  water  by  taking  a  teaspoonful  at  a  time.  The 
one  who  is  eating  the  cracker  is  not  allowed  to  have 
anything  to  drink. 


62  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Industry    and    constant    employment    are    great    preservatives    of    the 
morals  and  the  virtue  of  a  nation. 

89.     NOTED  ORATORS 

Let  three  young  men  impersonate  three  prominent 
orators.  State  that,  as  the  hour  is  late,  they  will  save 
time  by  all  speaking  at  once.  Each  of  the  three  should 
have  previously  committed  his  speech,  and  when  he 
has  taken  his  place  on  the  platform  he  will  frantically 
endeavor  to  make  himself  heard  above  the  others.  To 
make  the  performance  more  amusing,  they  should 
commit  speeches  which  require  dramatic  gestures,  and 
not  be  afraid  of  putting  in  extra  motions  as  the  occa- 
sion may  require. 

90.     "WHAT  AM  I?" 

This  game  is  played  by  having  several  pictures  cut 
out  of  magazines  or  newspapers  and  pinned  on  a  per- 
son's back.  The  person  is  then  told  that  he  is  to 
guess  what  he  represents  by  suggestions  given  by  the 
audience,  these  suggestions  relating  in  some  definite 
way  to  the  pictures  pinned  on  his  back.  The  one  from 
whom  he  gets  the  suggestion  must  take  his  place  for 
the  next  game. 

91.     CANE  WALK 

Take  a  stick  three  or  four  feet  in  length,  grasp  one 
end  with  both  hands  and  place  the  other  end  on  the 
floor,  a  little  distance  from  the  feet.  Bend  over  until 
the  head  rests  upon  the  hands.  Stay  in  this  position 
and  make  four  or  five  complete  circles.  Lift  the  head 
and  try  to  walk  straight  across  the  floor.  Watch  out 
for  falls. 

92.     COIN  AND  CARD  SNAP 

Balance  a  visiting  card  on  the  tip  of  the  middle  or 
forefinger.  On  top  of  the  card  place  a  dime  or  nickel ; 
this  should  be  exactly  over  the  tip  of  the  finger  and 
in  the  middle  of  the  card.     Snap  the  edge  of  the  card 


GAMES  AND  STUNTS  63 

Saying   the   wrong   thing    is    misfortune;    but   trying    to    explain   it  is 
disaster. — The   Saturday   Evening   Post. 

with  a  finger  of  the  other  hand,  so  that  the  card  will  be 
shot  from  under  the  coin  and  leave  the  coin  balanced 
on  the  finger. — Games  for  the  Playground,  Home, 
School  and  Gymnasium,  Jessie  H.  'Bancroft. 


93.     THE  TRIUMPH 

The  hands  are  placed  palm  to  palm  behind  the  back 
with  the  fingers  pointing  downward  and  thumbs  next 
to  the  back.  Keeping  the  tips  of  the  fingers  close  to 
the  back  and  the  palms  still  together,  the  hands  are 
turned  inward  and  upward  until  the  tips  of  the  fingers 
are  between  the  shoulders,  pointing  upward  toward 
the  head,  and  the  thumbs  outside. — Games  for  the 
Playground,  Home,  School  and  Gymnasium,  Jessie  H. 
Bancroft. 

94.     ANKLE  THROW 

This  feat  consists  in  tossing  some  object  over  the 
head  from  behind  with  the  feet.  A  bean  bag,  book, 
or  basket  ball,  is  held  firmly  between  the  ankles.  With 
a  sudden  jump,  the  feet  are  kicked  backward  so  as  to 
jerk  the  object  into  an  upward  throw,  which  should 
end  in  its  curving  forward  over  the  head.  It  should 
be  caught  as  it  comes  down. 

95.     ROOSTER  FIGHT 

This  is  an  old  Greek  amusement.  A  ring  six  feet 
in  diameter  is  drawn  on  the  ground.  Two  players  are 
placed  in  this,  who  stoop  and  grasp  each  his  own 
ankles.  In  this  position  they  try  to  displace  each  other 
by  shouldering.  The  player  loses  who  is  overthrown 
or  who  loosens  his  grasp  on  his  ankles. — Games  for  the 
Playground,  Home,  School  and  Gymnasium,  Jessie  H. 
Bancroft. 


64  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

The  pessimist  stands  beneath  the  tree  of  prosperity  and  growls  when 
the  fruit  falls  on  his  head. — The  Saturday   Evening  Post. 

96.     INDIAN  WRESTLE 

Two  players  lie  on  their  backs  side  by  side,  with 
adjacent  arms  locked.  The  feet  should  be  in  opposite 
directions.  At  a  signal  the  adjacent  legs  are  brought 
to  an  upright  position  and  interlocked  at  the  knees. 
The  wrestle  consists  in  trying  to  force  the  opponent  to 
roll  over  from  his  position. — Games  for  the  Play- 
ground, Home,  School  and  Gymnasium,  Jessie  H.  Ban- 
croft. 

97.     CATCH   PENNY 

Place  on  your  elbow  three  or  four  penny  pieces  in 
a  heap,  then  drop  your  elbow  very  suddenly  so  as  to 
bring  your  hand  rather  below  the  place  where  your 
elbow  was  and  try  to  catch  the  money  before  it  falls 
to  the  ground.  A  few  trials  will  enable  you  to  per- 
form this  trick  with  the  greatest  facility. — Indoor  and 
Outdoor  Gymnastic  Games,  A.  G.  Spalding  &  Bros., 
New  York  City. 

98.     POLITICAL  CONVENTION 

Delegations  convene,  each  composed  of  the  occu- 
pants of  one  tent  and  each  bearing  the  name  of  a 
state,  represented  on  a  banner.  The  chairman  opens 
the  convention ;  committees  on  credentials,  rules  and 
resolutions  report.  A  suffragette  is  introduced;  the 
rollcall  of  states  with  speeches  for  nomination  of 
president  follows.  Local  names  triumph  over  famous 
statesmen  suggested.  A  parade  and  fireworks  follow 
the  nomination. 

99.     STRENGTH  TEST 

Take  a  piece  of  board  about  thirty  inches  in  length 
and  eight  or  ten  inches  wide,  one  half  an  inch  thick. 


GAMES  AND  STUNTS  65 

The    taking   of   unfair   advantage   of    a   neighbor's   necessities,    though 
attended  with  temporary  success,  always  breeds  bad  blood. — Jf  ranklin. 

Place  it  on  a  table  with  one  end  projecting  half  way. 
Take  several  newspapers  and  open  them,  and  place 
them  on  the  table  over  the  top  of  the  board,  pressing 
them  down  firmly  with  both  hands.  Have  some  one 
hit  the  end  that  protrudes  a  quick  blow,  trying  to  raise 
the  newspapers. 


100.     "OBSERVATION" 

Place  from  one  dozen  to  twenty  small  articles  on 
a  salver  and  pass  around  the  room,  giving  each  person 
about  ten  seconds  in  which  to  "observe."  Then  let 
each  one  write  on  a  slip  of  paper  the  names  of  the 
articles  as  far  as  remembered.  A  few  simple  prizes 
may  be  given  to  the  ones  able  to  name  the  largest 
number  of  articles,  and  also  a  "booby"  prize. — H.  S.  N. 


101.     BLINDFOLD  BOXING  MATCH 

A  blindfold  boxing  match  has  often  been  introduced, 
resulting  in  considerable  merriment.  Two  men  are 
blindfolded;  a  book  is  laid  on  the  mat,  both  men  get 
on  their  knees,  laying  their  left  hands  on  the  book. 
Each  man  has  a  coach  and  is  permitted  to  strike  when 
the  coach  says  "hit." — Monterey,  Mexico. 


102.     FINGER  JUMP 

The  performer  holds  a  stick  horizontally  between 
the  forefingers  of  his  hands,  pressing  with  the  fingers 
to  keep  it  from  falling.  Keeping  the  stick  in  this 
position,  he  should  jump  over  it  forward  and  then  back- 
ward. The  same  feat  may  be  performed  by  pressing 
together  the  middle  fingers  of  the  two  hands  without  a 
stick  and  jumping  over  them  forward  and  backward, 
as  a  dog  jumps  through  curved  arms. 


66  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Quit    yourselves     like    men. — Old    Testament. 

103.     STANDING  TOE  WRESTLE 

The  arms  are  folded  and,  hopping  on  one  foot,  each 
wrestler  tries  to  make  his  opponent  put  his  other  foot 
upon  the  floor,  by  a  side  movement  of  the  leg. — Y.  M. 
C.  A.  Young  Men's  Era,  1892,  page  1592.  Indoor  and 
Outdoor  Gymnastic  Games,  A.  G.  Spalding  &  Bros., 
New  York  City. 

10L     BOTTLE  BALANCING 

Place  a  round  bottle  on  its  side  on  the  floor,  then 
have  a  person  sit  down  on  the  bottle,  extending  legs 
full  length.  Put  the  right  foot  on  top  of  the  left  toe, 
afterwards  giving  the  person  pencil  and  a  piece  of 
cardboard,  or  heavy  paper,  and  tell  him  to  write  his 
name  on  it  without  his  hands  touching  the  floor.  It 
usually  takes  several  efforts  to  accomplish  this  feat. 

105.     TRICK  MATCHES 

This  stunt  may  be  used  on  various  occasions.  Have 
one  or  two  candles  in  the  room  lighted.  Have  one 
that  is  not  lighted,  and  when  a  new  arrival  comes,  give 
him  a  trick  match  and  ask  him  to  light  the  candle. 
When  he  strikes  the  match  it  will  explode  like  a  small 
firecracker  or  toy  pistol  cap.  It  is  harmless.  The 
matches  may  be  bought  at  any  novelty  store  at  five 
cents  a  box. 

106.     "JOHN    BROWN'S    BODY" 

Have  some  one  play  "John  Brown's  Body  Lies 
a-mouldering  in  the  Grave,"  then  leave  the  last  word 
out  each  time  you  sing  the  verse  through  until  all  the 
words  have  been  left  out  but  the  first  word  of  the  line, 
"John."  When  any  one  sings  a  word  that  should  be 
left  out  he  should  drop  out  of  the  game  as  a  forfeit. 


FORFEITS  67 

And  learn  the  luxury  of   doing  good. — Goldsmith. 

Forfeits 

In  the  case  of  failure  to  accomplish  these  feats,  any 
of  the  following  forfeits  may  be  imposed,  affording 
much  amusement: 

107.     CHEW  THE  STRING 

Two  bonbons  are  wrapped  in  paper  and  tied  each 
to  a  piece  of  string  six  yards  in  length.  These  are 
placed  on  the  floor  at  a  distance  from  each  other,  the 
free  end  of  a  string  being  given  to  each  of  the  two 
players  who  are  assigned  to  this  penalty.  At  a  signal, 
each  player  puts  his  piece  of  string  in  his  mouth,  and 
with  hands  behind  back  chews  rapidly  at  the  string, 
trying  to  get  it  all  into  the  mouth.  The  one  who  first 
gets  to  his  piece  of  candy  is  rewarded  by  having  both 
pieces. — Games  for  the  Playground,  Home,  School  and 
Gymnasium,  Jessie  H.  Bancroft. 

108.     CONSTANTINOPLE 

The  player  is  required  to  "Spell  Constantinople,  one 
syllable  at  a  time."  As  soon  as  he  gets  to  the  letter 
"i,"  all  the  other  players  shout  the  syllable,  "no."  The 
speller  naturally  thinks  that  he  has  made  a  mistake, 
and  commences  again.  Each  time  that  he  gets  to  the 
letter  "i"  the  same  cry  of  "no !"  is  made,  and  the  poor 
victim  may  become  very  much  confused,  and  doubt  his 
own  memory  as  to  spelling  before  he  discovers  the 
trick. — Games  for  the  Playground,  Home,  School  and 
Gymnasium,  Jessie  H.  Bancroft. 

109.     SO  NEAR  AND  YET  SO  FAR 

Two  players  are  required  to  stand  upon  an  open 
newspaper  in  such  a  manner  that  they  cannot  possibly 
touch  one  another.     They  will  find  the  solution  of  the 


68  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

When   apple   boughs   are   full  of  bloom, 

And  Nature  loves  her  fellow  men, 
With  all  the  witchery  of  spring, 

How  can  you  hate  a  fellow  then? — Rollins. 

problem  in  placing  the  newspaper  over  the  sill  of  a 
door,  and  then  closing  the  door  between  them. — Games 
for  the  Playground,  Home,  School  and  Gymnasium, 
Jessie  H.  Bancroft. 

110.  HAYSTACK. 

A  player  is  required  to  make  a  pile  of  chairs  as  high 
as  his  head,  and  then  take  off  his  shoes  and  jump  over 
them.  (Jump  over  the  shoes.) — Games  for  the  Play- 
ground, Home,  School  and  Gymnasium,  Jessie  H.  Ban- 
croft. 

111.  "HOT  AIR" 

Contestants  placed  on  opposite  sides  of  a  sheet 
which  is  held  on  a  level  with  their  mouths.  Each  tries 
to  blow  a  toy  balloon  over  opponent's  head. — /.  C. 
Clark,  Portland,  Ore. 


112.     THE  AFFIRMATIVE 

A  player  is  required  to  ask  a  question  that  cannot 
be  answered  in  the  negative,  The  question  is,  "What 
does  y-e-s  spell?" — Games  for  the  Playground,  Home, 
School  and  Gymnasium,  Jessie  H.  Bancroft. 

.    113.     BLOWING  OUT  LIGHTED  CANDLE 

Place  a  lighted  candle  on  a  table.  Blindfold  a  per- 
son and  let  him  walk  to  the  table  and  extinguish  the 
light  by  blowing  it.  It  will  be  amusing  to  see  how 
hard  he  will  blow  when  not  near  the  candle  at  all. 


AMATEUR  ENTERTAINMENTS 

114.     HOW  TO  PROMOTE  AND  CONDUCT  AN 
AMATEUR  CIRCUS 

A  larger  number  of  members  can  be  given  some- 
thing to  do  in  a  circus  than  in  a  gymnasium  exhibition, 
by  giving  them  stunts  in  the  side  show,  dressing-room, 
or  by  employing  them  as  supes,  peanut  boys,  etc.,  etc. 
The  combination  of  legitimate  gymnastics  with  bur- 
lesque interests  a  larger  number  of  members  and 
spectators  than  the  regular  gymnasium  exhibition. 
More  enthusiasm,  more  cooperation,  more  fellowship, 
more  people — more  money. 

Organization.  Call  together  the  committee  that 
should  get  up  the  circus,  and  after  you  have  briefly  sug- 
gested the  idea  (say  as  little  as  possible,  but  enough  to 
secure  enthusiasm)  let  them  "go  it."  Keeping  impor- 
tant things  in  mind,  you  can  guide  with  an  occasional 
word. 

Committees.  Appoint  a  treasurer  and  chairmen  of 
committees  on  advertising,  music,  ushers,  side  show, 
main  show,  refreshments,  menagerie,  clowns  and  cos- 
tumes. Let  these  chairmen  appoint  their  own  helpers 
so  far  as  possible.  All  committees  report  to  the  execu- 
tive committee  before  ordering  any  work  done  or 
engaging  any  performers.  In  selecting  the  date,  allow 
as  much  time  as  possible— two  months,  if  you  can.  This 
is  not  true  of  a  minstrel  show,  where  one  month  is 
better. 

The  Treasurer.  This  officer  should  have  tickets, 
seats,  ticket  sellers  and  takers  under  his  immediate 
supervision.  You  will  need  a  young  business  man  with 
executive  ability  and  tact  for  this.  Let  him  select  his 
helpers. 

Advertising.  This  committee  must  find  a  member 
who  will  prepare  striking  posters   (about  4x10  feet) 


70  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

A  man  that  hath  friends  must  show  himself  friendly. — Old  Testament. 

to  be  hung  in  every  possible  place.  A  little  judicious 
newspaper  advertising  is  helpful.  It  may  be  necessary 
to  pay  for  space,  but  in  most  cases  it  is  easy  to  secure 


Parade  Snapshots 


notice  in  the  news  columns.  Keep  something  in  the 
way  of  reading  matter  in  the  papers  all  the  time,  in- 
creasing the  amount  as  the  show  approaches.     This 


AMATEUR  ENTERTAINMENTS  71 

A   hero  whether  he  wins  or  loses,   is   a  hero. — Thackeray. 

is  work  enough  for  one  man — a  good  man,  too.  Use 
"big  talk"  in  writing  everything — stupendous — re- 
nowned— scientific — magnificent.  The  committee  can 
secure  over  one  hundred  dollars  in  advertising  for  an 
eight-page  stapled  program  (9x14  inches).  Five 
thousand  of  these,  together  with  ten  thousand  flyers 
(9x12  inches),  will  provide  abundant  matter  to  be 
distributed  (if  the  city  will  permit).  Begin  a  week 
before  the  event  to  distribute  programs  and  flyers 
throughout  the  city,  giving  the  boys  an  opportunity  to 
help.  These  bills  should  give  the  main  features  and 
facts,  date  and  place  of  sale  of  reserved  seats.  The 
sale  of  seats  should  commence  at  least  a  week  before 
the  performance. 

Tickets.  The  tickets  should  have  distinctive  colors 
for  different  nights  and  for  location,  side  show,  main 
show,  gallery  and  floor.  Return  checks  should  be 
issued  to  those  who  go  out  during  the  performance 
expecting  to  return.  There  should  be  a  barker  with 
each  ticket  seller.  There  should  be  plenty  of  ticket 
booths  well  raised  away  from  the  sneak  thief.  Have 
plenty  of  change.  Be  careful  with  complimentary 
tickets,  but  remember  the  newspapers  early  and  well — 
it  pays.  Do  not  give  tickets  to  performers  who  are 
members  of  the  Association. 

Music.  An  energetic  and  sympathetic  chairman  of 
music  can  find  a  cornet  with  one  or  two  additional 
instruments,  to  unite  with  a  bass  drum  and  some 
zoboes  in  producing  a  band  "guaranteed  to  render 
music  of  a  nature  never  before  listened  to  by  any 
audience."  A  good  pianist  should  alternate  numbers 
with  the  band,  for  the  relief  of  the  band — and  the 
audience ! 

Ushers.  These  are  indispensable  not  only  within  the 
main  "tent"  but  as  guides  in  the  passageways  leading 
to  the  side  show,  etc.  Tack  up  plenty  of  cards  bearing 
directions  and  marking  sections  of  seats.  Each  section 
of  seats  should  have  at  least  one  usher. 


72  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

I  had  rather  have  a  fool  to  make  me  merry,  than  experience  to  make 
me    sad. — Shakespeare. 

Refreshments.  Peanuts,  lemonade,  popcorn  and 
candy,  secured  at  wholesale,  with  the  right  to  return 
what  is  not  sold  or  damaged,  may  be  sold  at  good  profit 
by  members  made  up  as  street  urchins. 


THE    SIDE   SHOW 

This  should  be  in  a  room  aside  from  the  gymnasium. 
A  great  deal  can  be  put  into  small  space.  The  freaks 
are  placed  on  platforms  made  of  picnic  tables  draped 
with  bunting.  The  crowd  can  file  around  the  room 
and  out  if  the  room  is  small. 

Costumes.  Make  a  job  price  with  the  best  costumer 
within  reach.  If  the  distance  from  a  big  city  like  New 
York  or  Chicago  is  not  too  great,  it  will  pay  to  make 
one  trip,  have  a  good  talk  with  the  costumer, 
pick  out  your  things  and  arrange  on  a  price,  not  forget- 
ting the  express  charges.  You  should  be  able  to  secure 
for  your  side  show  a  skeleton,  bearded  lady,  fat  lady, 
fat  man,  strong  man  and  weights,  giant,  midget, 
tattooed  man,  wild  man,  dog-faced  boy,  lions,  monkeys, 
a  stork,  bears,  etc.  Gus  Marks,  74  St.  Mark's  Place, 
New  York  City,  carries  an  extensive  line,  and  there  are 
many  others.  The  main  show  will  want  a  few  clown 
suits,  character  costumes,  suits  of  pink  tights  and 
skirts,  trained  horses,  an  elephant  and  a  mule.  Other 
things  will  suggest  themselves.  If  all  these  things  are 
secured,  your  costume  bill  may  run  up  to  thirty  or 
"forty  dollars  for  a  two-nights'  performance  and 
rehearsal — with  the  express  charges.  Members  should 
pay  fifty  cents  toward  their  costumes,  or  provide  them 
themselves. 

MAIN    SHOW 

Seats.  Reserve  all  seats.  If  there  is  a  running 
track,  have  no  standing  room  on  the  main  floor  ;  general 
admission    tickets    admit   only   to   the   gallery,    where 


AMATEUR  ENTERTAINMENTS  73 

The  devil  may  have  his  faults,  but  procrastination  is  not  one  of  them. 
—The  Saturday  Evening  Post. 

spectators  may  stand  behind  the  chairs  On  the  floor 
the  seats  may  be  placed  within  twenty  feet  of  the  ring, 
with  aisles  three  feet  wide  leading  from  the  ring  to 
the  four  corners  of  the  gymnasium.  This  gives  four 
sections  of  seats,  and  if  the  gymnasium  is  long,  the 
side  sections  may  be  subdivided. 

You  will  know  your  town,  but  a  fair  price  for  seats 
is  fifty  cents  for  the  front  row  running  .track  and  the 
three  rows  nearest  the  ring  on  the  floor;  all  other  seats 
thirty-five  cents,  general  admission  twenty-five  cents ; 
ten  cents  for  the  side  show.  < 

The  Ring.  Borrow  oat  bags  from  a  gram  man,  till 
them  with  old  paper,  and  make  your  ring  using  the 
gymnasium  mats  for  a  center.  Cover  it  all  over  with 
old  striped  cloth,  secured  from  an  awning  concern  or 
with  green  stage  carpet,  from  a  local  theatre.  Sawdust 
produces  a  great  dust  and  is  undesirable. 

The  Night  of  the  Performance.     One  or  two  men 
should  be  appointed  to  greet  visiting  talent  and  see  that 
?hey   are   treated   hospitably.     If   they   are   amateurs 
coming  simply  for  their  expenses,  this  will  be  much 
appreciated.  , 

The  barkers  and  ticket  sellers  are  busy  near  the  main 
entrance  for  fully  half  an  hour  before  the  doors  to  the 
£te  show  are  thrown  open,  promptly  at .eight  o  c lock 
An  announcer  in  the  side  show  should  have  plenty  of 
talk  on  his  tongue's  end,  like  this : 

-Allow  me,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  to  honor  you  with 
an  introduction  to  one  of  the  most  pitching  entmnc- 
in-  bits  of  feminine  modesty  in  existence— Mme.  Harie 
Mug,  the  bearded  lady.  While  a  child,  she  was  cap- 
tured and  scalped  by  fierce  Indians.  Surviving  the 
awful  torture,  she  attempted  to  recover ^ei 'lost  tresses 
bv  the  use  of  a  famous  hair  elixir.  In  applying  the 
flyuid  it  ran  down  on  her  face,  withes  astonishing 
result  "  Passing  on  to  the  next  exhibit  the  barker 
turns  on  the  stream  of  language  again. 

Patrons  visiting  the  side  show  are  advised  to  begin 


74  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

A    merrier    man,    within   the   limit   of    becoming   mirth,    I    never    spent 
an   hour's   talk   withal. — Shakespeare. 

moving  toward  the  main  show  at  8.45  in  order  to  hear 
the  grand  concert  by  Zu-Zu's  band. 


THE    PROGRAM 

Something  should  be  going  on  while  the  people  are 
being  seated.  For  example,  at  8.45  an  old  farmer  and 
his  wife  enter,  looking  for  seats.  They  wander  aim- 
lessly about  the  ring  and  aisles,  pointing  with  a  large 
cotton  umbrella  and  getting  into  every  one's  way. 
Without  noise,  enter  two  camera  fiends.  They  dis- 
cover the  farmer  and  wife.  Ten  minutes  of  posing,  as 
funny  as  the  actors  are  capable  of  making  it.  Attitudes 
and  gestures  are  copious,  but  there  is  no  talking.  The 
band  plays  alternately  with  the  pianist. 

The  refreshment  boys  are  calling  their  wares. 
Sharply  at  nine  o'clock  the  ringmaster  enters  the  ring 
He  is  attired  in  tall  hat,  dress  coat,  white  vest  and 
bright  red  ribbon  sash,  white  trousers  and  top  boots. 
In  his  hand  is  a  whip  with  a  long  lash.  Dropping  his 
silk  hat  with  a  sweeping  bow,  he  announces  the  great 
parade.  "Are  you  ready?"  "Sure,"  answers  a  voice 
from  the  door  of  the  dressing  room.  "Well,  come  on," 
sings  out  the  ringmaster,  as  he  cracks  his  whip  with 
great  gusto — 'the  band  begins  to  play  and  the  show  is 
on.  Let  everybody  get  into  the  parade.  People  don't 
mind  seeing  the  side  show  freaks  twice,  and  it  makes 
the  show  look  bigger. 

-  Mix  up  the  acts  well ;  that  is,  don't  put  two  gymnastic 
numbers  close  together.  A  good  order  is  parade,  gym- 
nasts, clown  act,  trained  horses,  clown  act,  gymnasts, 
clown  act,  trained  elephant,  etc.,  etc.  Have  a  reliable 
person,  with  plenty  of  helpers  in  the  dressing  room, 
who  get  the  numbers  ready  for  their  turn  and  have 
them  on  time.  As  one  act  goes  off  let  the  next  pass  it 
coming  in.  The  clown  acts,  which  should  alternate 
with  the  other  numbers,  should  be  well  rehearsed.  It 
is  hard  to  be  trulv  funiry. 


AMATEUR  ENTERTAINMENTS  75 

Experience  is  a  good  teacher,  but  charges  like  a  specialist. — The 
Saturday  Evening   Post. 

Each  trained  horse  is  animated  by  two  boys  or  men 
standing  in  a  shell  which  forms  the  head  and  body  of 
the  animal.  A  skirt  hides  the  legs  of  the  boys.  A 
colored  individual  should  have  a  trained  donkey. 

The  constituent  parts  of  the.  baby  elephant  (two  boys 
in  a  skin)  after  performing  numerous  difficult  (?)  feats 
for  the  trainer,  quarrel  over  the  luncheon  they  have 
stolen  from  their  keeper,  emerge  from  under  cover 
and  flee  in  dismay.  A  good  final  act  is  "jumping  the 
elephant,"  which  consists  in  leaping  from  the  spring 
board  over  the  parallel  bars,  over  which  have  been 
thrown  the  mats.  This  stunt  starts  with  the  gymnastic 
team ;  the  excitement  grows  intense ;  the  bandmaster 
hesitates  and  finally  joins  the  flying  gymnasts,  followed 
by  policemen,  ushers  and  clowns.  All  finally  gather 
in  the  center  of  the  ring.  There  is  a  sudden  quiet. 
The  ringmaster  thanks  the  audience  for  their  kind 
indulgence  and  the  show  is  over. 

At  the  end  of  the  evening's  work  and  fun  the  boys, 
and  all  who  have  helped  in  any  way,  appreciate  ice 
cream  and  cake,  served  to  them  in  an  unoccupied  room. 

CLOWN    STUNTS 

The  Sail  Boat.  Make  a  light  wood  frame  shaped 
like  a  boat,  with  no  bottom.  A  man  stands  inside,  with 
the  boat  supported  at  his  hips  by  straps  over  the 
shoulders.  A  green  cloth  tacked  to  the  frame  hides 
the  man's  legs.  He  holds  a  sail  in  his  hands.  Another 
clown  goes  ahead  and  with  water  can  sprinkles  the  way, 
while  a  third  clown  follows  behind  the  boat  and  blows 
the  sail  with  bellows.     Move  around  the  ring  and  out. 

The  Duck  Hunt.  Use  the  same  kind  of  boat,  with- 
out sail.  A  clown,  dressed  to  burlesque  a  hunter  in 
the  boat,  backs  in,  rowing.  Another  clown  sits  in  the 
ring  with  a  pasteboard  duck  fastened  by  a  string 
to  his  ankle.  The  duck  clown  quacks  and 
the  man  in  the  boat  stops  rowing  at  each  quack,  looks 
over  his  shoulder,  rows  to  within  twenty  feet  of  the 


AMATEUR  ENTERTAINMENTS  77 

It    is    wonderful    how    gallantly    one    bears    the    misfortunes    of    one's 
friends. — Thackeray. 

duck,  lets  boat  down  on  floor  and  takes  off  his  clothes, 
showing  a  ridiculous  bathing  suit.  Taking  a  blunder- 
buss gun,  he  pretends  to  splash  water  on  himself  and 
steps  gingerly  out  of  the  boat  into  supposed  water, 
shivering.  He  gets  down  on  hands  and  knees  and 
stalks  the  duck,  stopping  every  two  feet  to  aim  his 
gun.  Finally  he  puts  the  gun  up  against  the  duck, 
acts  as  though  he  would  fire,  then  suddenly  puts  his 
hat  over  the  duck.  He  starts  to  carry  off  the  duck, 
when  the  other  clown  feels  a  tug  at  his  ankle  and  ex- 
postulates in  pantomime.  Hunter  makes  an  offer  to 
jpy  for  the  duck,  which  is  accepted  (all  in  pantomime), 
and  he  marches  off  triumphant,  fastens  duck  to  the 
back  of  his  beat,  gets  in  and  rows  away. 

The  Surgical  Operation.  A  long  table  covered  with 
a  sheet  is  placed  in  the  ring.  Turn  the  lights  down  a 
little,  if  possible,  or  shade  them.  One  clown  comes  in, 
yawns,  stretches,  sees  the  table  and  contentedly  lies 
down.  Enter  clown  made  up  as  old  doctor,  with  tall 
hat  and  large  spectacles,  carrying  carpetbag  containing 
large  saw,  mallet,  auger,  chisel,  and  small  megaphone. 
This  clown  must  play  well  the  part  of  a  nearsighted 
old  doctor.  He  puts  down  his  carpetbag  and  inspects 
his  patient,  by  putting  his  head  down  close  to  his  feet 
and  then  moving  up  toward  his  head.  This  he  repeats 
often  throughout  the  act,  never  apparently  knowing 
which  is  head  or  feet.  He  lays  out  his  tools,  one  by 
one,  on  the  floor,  sharpens  the  saw  noisily  on  the  floor, 
looks  at  patient's  lungs  through  megaphone,  and  listens 
to  heart  through  it.  Whenever  he  returns  to  get  a  new 
tool,  a  third  clown,  dressed  in  red  tights  to  impersonate 
the  devil,  dances  around  the  clown  on  the  table  who 
shakes  with  fear  and  goes  through  motions  of  fright, 
but  immediately  reclines  quietly  when  the  doctor 
returns.  The  nearsighted  doctor  cannot  see  the  devil. 
The  doctor  starts  to  drive  the  chisel  into  the  clown's 
stomach  with  the  mallet  and  patient  sits  straight  up 
with  an  expression  of  fear.     The  doctor  pushes  the 


78  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Some  men  keep  their  word  because  no  one  will  take  it. — The  Saturday 
Evening   Post. 

patient's  head  back  and  his  legs  come  up.  The  doctor 
has  a  hard  time  trying  to  get  patient  straightened  out, 
looks  around  for  weights  to  place  on  his  feet,  and  when 
he  turns  away  the  devil  prances  up,  the  patient  jumps 
up  and  runs  out,  and  the  devil  gets  on  the  table  in 
the  patient's  place.  The  doctor  returns,  starts  at  the 
feet,  nearsightedly,  gets  to  the  devil's  face,  both  of 
them  let  out  a  yell  and  the  doctor  runs  for  his  life 
pursued  by  the  devil. — A.  M.  Chesley,  Washington, 
D.  C,  in  Physical  Training,  Vol.  5,  No.  10. 


115.     AN  ART  GALLERY 

This  form  of  amusement  is  very  well  known,  and 
some  of  the  common  catches  have  become  classic ;  yet 
it  is  always  sure  to  create  amusement,  and  if  your 
social  committee  has  not  got  up  an  art  gallery,  by  all 
means  do  so. 

You  should  curtain  off  a  small  portion  of  your 
room,  and  arrange  the  different  pictures  upon  tables 
stretched  along  the  side.  Each  picture  is  to  be  labeled 
with  its  title,  or,  if  you  wish,  you  may  have  a  catalog 
pasted  in  some  prominent  place.  A  small  admission 
fee  may  be  charged.  It  will  add  to  the  fun  if  some 
comical  genius  acts  as  exhibitor. 

Here  is  the  best  list  of  works  I  have  ever  seen  for 
such  an  art  gallery : 


Art   Gallery 

exhibition  of  painting  and  sculpture,  with  many  curious 
works  of  art 

1.  The  Holy  See   Leo  XIII. 

2.  Rock  of  Ages   Lull  Abi 

3.  Old   Ironsides    Bach   Acre 

4.  The  Kids  at  Rest Alexandre 

5.  Voices   of  the   Night Thos.   Katt 

6.  Mustered  In  and  Mustered  Out Keene 

7.  A   Young   Man's   Fear Disputed 


AMATEUR  ENTERTAINMENTS  79 

Absence  of  occupation   is  not  rest, 

A    mind    quite    vacant    is    a    mind    distressed. — Cowper. 

8.  Time  on  the  Wing McGrew 

9.  My  Own,  My  Native  Land Anonymous 

10.  Something  to  Adore McHannick 

11.  Can't   be   Beat Annie   Fool 

12.  Only  a  Poor  Old  Wood-Chopper Geo.  Washington 

13.  A   Perfect   Foot    N.   E.   Carpenter 

14.  Maid  of  Orleans S.  Orghum 

15.  One  Hundred  Years  Ago  Al.  Manac 

16.  Cause  of  the  Revolution Ole  Bull 

17.  Little  Fishes    (a  study   in  oil) S.   R.   Dean 

18.  Wood  Cuts  (a  group)   F.  K.  Hackman 

19.  "We  Part  to  Meet  Again" C  Steel 

20.  Mementos   of   the   Great    Cole 

21.  The  "Star  in  the  East''" F.  Leischmann 

22.  A  Spoony  Couple  Unknown 

23.  "Samson   Was    Great;    Lo !    a    Greater" N.    Meig 

24.  A  Marble  Group   Mike  L.  Angelo 

25.  "Murphy  on  a  Bender"  T.  Wigg 

26.  Bonaparte  Crossing  the  Rhine German  Valley 

27.  View  of  the  Red  Sea  and  Plains  Beyond Fairo 

28.  The  Skeleton  Behind  the  Door Unknown 

29.  Deer  Slayers  C.  Orset 

30.  Horse  Fair  of  '96 G.  Rain 

31.  A   Hard   Case    O.    Shell 

32.  Heads  (statuary)   C.  Abbage 

33.  A  Wayworn  Traveler Shuman 

34.  Sweet   Sixteen    C.  Andy 

35.  "A  Perfect  Match"   M.  Atch 

36.  Hogg's  Tales    (illustrated)    C.   Pork 

37.  The  Light  of  Other  Days  T.  Chandler 

38.  All  Afloat  S.  Aylor 

39.  The   Ruins    in    China S.    M.   Asher 

40.  Lone    Beat    (an    army    scene) Thtulow 

41.  The  Skipper's  Home    O.   Mite 

42.  The   Four   Seasons    Bill 

43.  Not  To  Be  Bored G.  Imblet 

44.  Noted  English  Essayist    Unknown 

45.  The  American  Commentators P.   Patch 

46.  Whaling    Implements    Birch 

47.  Hamlet  Alone    H.  Meat 

48.  Wax  Figures   Mrs.  Jarley 

49.  Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel   B.  Antem 

50.  Things  That  End  in  Smoke   T.  Bacco 

51.  Crossing  the    Styx Sharp 

52.  The    Lost    Heir    Shampooer 

53.  Bust   of   a   Boy    O.   Close 

54.  The    Best    Thing    Out    M.    D. 

55.  The  Skillful  Phrenologist M.   Comb 


80  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

I  love  my  country  better  than  my  family — but  I  love  human  nature 
better  than  my  country. — Fenelon. 

56.  A  Tearful  Subj ect G.  Rocer 

57.  Manufacturer  of  New  England  Hoes K.  Nitter 

58.  Tales  of   Ocean    S.   McArel 

59.  Bad  Spell  of  Weather Unknown 

60.  A  Friend  That  Sticketh  Closer  than  a  Brother,   McCandy 

61.  An  Old  Man's  Darling  and  a  Young  Man's  Slave, 

J.  Smoker 

62.  Bridal  Scene   Harness 

63.  The  Sun  That  Never  Sets Shanghai 

64.  The    Old    Snuff-Taker Unknown 

65.  Flats  and   Sharps    Mozart 

66.  Sold  Again  Anonymous 

67.  The  Devil  in  Disguise  (statuary  in  glass) O.  Toper 

68.  Ever  of  Thee  I  am  Fondly  Dreaming Ban.  Kerr 

"The  most  admirable  display  of  original  specimens  of  art 
to  be  found  in  America." — The  North  American  Review. 

"A  collection  of  rare  and  beautiful  gems  in  the  school  of 
art,  at  sight  of  which  the  unbidden  tears  will  start." — Paris 
Gazette  des  Beaux  Arts. 

"A  few  moments  spent  in  its  classic  realms  has  a  tendency 
to  elevate  one  to  higher  motives." — Atlantic  Monthly. 

1.  A  large  Letter  C,  full  of  holes. 

2.  A  cradle. 

3.  Flatirons. 

4.  Several  pairs  of  kid  gloves. 

5.  Two  cats  in  a  cage. 

6.  Mustard  in  and  mustard  out   (of  a  bottle). 

7.  A  mitten. 

8.  Watch  on  a  turkey's  wing. 

9.  A  pan  of  dirt. 

10.  A  lock  and  key. 

11.  Turnip. 

12.  An  axe. 

13.  A  foot  rule. 

14.  Molasses  candy. 

15.  The  date,  1796. 

16.  Tacks  on  tea  (tax  on  tea). 

17.  A  can  of  sardines. 

18.  Chips  from  the  sawmill. 

19.  Scissors. 

20.  Coals  from  the  grate. 

21.  A  star  in  some  yeast. 

22.  Two  spoons. 

23.  A  nutmeg  grater. 

24.  A  group  of  marbles. 


AMATEUR  ENTERTAINMENTS  81 

Living  costs  more  in  these  days — but  it  is  worth  more  to  live. — The 
Saturday  Evening  Post. 

25.  Potato  on  a  twig  that  would  bend. 

26.  Bones  apart  over  a  rind. 

27.  A  red  letter  C,  and  carpenter's  planes  beyond. 

28.  A  hoopskirt  behind  the  door. 

29.  Corset. 

30.  Corn   (horse  fare). 

31.  Shells. 

32.  Cabbage. 

33.  An  old  worn-out  shoe. 

34.  Sixteen  sticks  of  candy. 

35.  A  match. 

36.  Hogs'  tails   (three  or  four). 

37.  Candles. 

38.  An  awl  in  a  pan  of  water. 

39.  Broken  dishes. 

40.  A  beet. 

41.  Cheese. 

42.  Salt,    pepper,   vinegar,    mustard. 

43.  Gimlet. 

44.  Bacon. 

45.  Potatoes. 

46.  A  bundle  of  switches. 

47.  Ham  let  alone. 

48.  Figures  of  sealing  wax. 

49.  Egg. 

50.  Cigars. 

51.  Several  sticks  crossed. 

52.  Several  hairs  in  some  butter. 

53.  A  pair  of  pants  stuffed,  out  at  the  knees. 

54.  A  tooth. 

55.  A  fine  comb. 

56.  Onions. 

57.  Knitting  needles. 

58.  Mackerel  tails. 

59.  "Wethair." 

60.  Molasses. 

61.  Pipe. 

62.  Bridle. 

63.  Rooster. 

64.  Snuffers. 

65.  Needles  and  flatirons. 

66.  An  old  shoe  half-soled. 

67.  Bottle  of  whiskey. 

68.  Money. 

— From  "Social  to  Save,"  United  Society  of  Christian 
Endeavor. 


AMATEUR  ENTERTAINMENTS  83 

A    record    is    the    only    thing    improved    by    breaking. — The    Saturday 
Evening  Post. 

116.     AN  EVENING  WITH  THE  YAPHANK 
(LONG  ISLAND)  WHITTLING  CLUB 

An  Amateur  Entertainment — Shavings,  Song  and  Story 

Railroad  Men's  Building,  361  Madison  Avenue,  New  York 

ladies'  night 

Monday  Evening,  February  14,  1910 

BATTING  ORDER 

Adam  Druckmiller,  Storekeeper 

Deacon  Satchel,  A  Mormon  Missionary 

Cain  Brake,  An  Inoffensive  Coon 

Reed  Journal,  The  Town  Bureau  of  Information 

F.  Hornpipe,  A  Rube  Fiddler 

Louie  Lutzmacher,  The  Flying  Dutchman 

Mordecai  Epstein,  A  Harlem  Pack  Peddler 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Fourthly,  The  Village  Parson 

Denis  Rafferty,  A  Section  Hand 

Hezekiah  Stillwithus,  The  Oldest  Inhabitant 

Claudie  Lamont,  A  Fresh  Guy  from  the  City 

The  Village  Band,  on  their  way  home  from  rehearsal. 
Hank  Wilson  and  his  little  boy. 
Bill  Hawkins,  1 

Pete  Brown, 
Isaac  Groat, 

Tom  Summerville,         >  Rubes 

Jake  Hines, 
Bob  Bascomb, 
Bill  Spicer,  J 

EDIFYING  FEATURES 

No.     1.     Isaac  Groat  and  Hornpipe  pull  off  a  horse  trade.    A 

fair  swap — give  and  take. 
No.     2.     Cain    Brake,   an    inoffensive   coon,    is    made   to   stop 

on  his  way  home  from  work  and  give  a  ten-minute 

"buck   and   wing"    on   pain    of   lynching.      Hornpipe 

saws  the  fiddle. 
No.     3.     Rev.  Ebenezer  Fourthly  and  Tom  Summerville  lock 

horns  over  the  Scriptural  identity  of  Gog  and  Magog. 
No.     4.     Reed  Journal,   the  only  man   in  town   who  takes   a 

Mineola  paper,   enlightens   his    fellow   citizens  as  to 

the  week's  news. 


84  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

No    pleasure    is    comparable    to    standing    upon    the    vantage    ground 
of  truth. — Bacon. 

Xo.  5.  The  Ananias  Club  goes  into  executive  session  in  a 
story-telling  match.  Hezekiah  Stillwithus,  the  oldest 
inhabitant,  gives  them  all  a  run  for  their  mo.iey. 

Xo.  6.  Deacon  Satchel,  a  Mormon  missionary  and  tract 
distributer,  appears  on  the  scene  and  escapes  by  the 
skin  of  his  teeth. 

No.  7.  Denis  Rafferty,  a  Hibernian  section  hand,  happens 
in,  and  provides  the  Whittling  Club  with  a  little 
amusement. 

No.  8.  Louie  Lutzmacher,  a  flying  Dutchman,  gets  jealous 
of  Rafferty,  and  upholds  the  dignity  of  the  German 
Empire  with  some  remarks  and  songs  in  his  native 
tongue. 

No.  9.  Claudie  Lamont,  a  city  boarder,  butts  in  with  some 
remarks  on  athletics.  Bill  Spicer  takes  the  other 
side  of  the  argument,  and  after  they  are  carefully 
blindfolded,  they  put  on  the  gloves  for  a  boxing 
contest. 

No.  10.  The  Village  Band  happens  along  on  its  way  home 
from  rehearsal  at  the  cheese  factory.  Upon  urgent 
request  they  play  No.  23  from  the  A.  B.  C.  band 
book. 

No.  11.  Some  of  the  Rubes  form  an  impromptu  male  quartet 
to  run  opposition  to  the  band.  Old  Hezekiah  Still- 
withus insisted  upon  being  heard  in  a  solo  entitled 
"The  Green  Grass  Grows  All  'Round." 

No.  12.  Mordecai  Epstein,  a  Hebraistic  Pack  Peddler  from 
Harlem,  comes  along,  looking  for  a  place  to  stay  all 
night.  He  attempts  to  "conduction  some  auction- 
ings"  on  the  store  steps,  and  is  violently  attacked  by 
Drnckmiller,  the  village  merchant.  Bloodshed  is 
averted,  but  Epstein  goes  away  mad. 


SYNOPSIS 

The  scene  of  this  touching  melodrama  is  laid  in  that  charm- 
ing Athens  of  America,  Yaphank,  Long  Island.  Many  leading 
citizens  of  that  erudite  community  will  cross  the  ferry  for  the 
first  time  in  order  to  participate  in  this  festival.  The  store 
steps  of  Yaphank's  leading  emporium  will  be  vividly  repro- 
duced at  enormous  expense.  The  Association  Orchestra  will 
be  on  hand  to  raise  the  curtain,  and  Clint  Weston  will  be 
stage  manager. 

— W.  IV.  Adair,  R.  R.  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  New  York  City. 


AMATEUR  ENTERTAINMENTS  85 

The  less  you  want  to  know  people  the  more  people  want  to  know  you. 
— The   Saturday   Evening   Post. 

117.     "JIMTOWN  IMPOSITION" 

This  was  conducted  with  great  success  by  George 
Sutherland  while  acting  secretary  of  the  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  Central  Association.  It  was  known  as  the 
"Jimtown  Imposition  and  Old  Time  County  Fair 
Association."  Stock  was  issued  at  par  value  of  $5, 
and  something  over  100  shares  were  sold  with  the 
distinct  understanding  that  two  thirds  of  the  amount 
should  be  returned  within  thirty  days  after  the  New 
Year's  Day  show.  In  passing  I  might  say  that  every 
dollar  was  returned  to  the  shareholders,  although  the 
putting  on  of  such  an  elaborate  affair  involved  the 
outlay  of  $1500,  without  a  cent  of  cost  to  the  Associa- 
tion. 

After  the  sale  of  stock  was  made,  all  the  share- 
holders were  called  together  and  a  board  of  directors 
of  twelve  men  was  made  responsible  for  the  organiza- 
tion, promotion  and  successful  conduct  of  the  affairs 
of  the  "Imposition  Company."  These  directors  held 
meetings  as  often  as  twice  a  week,  beginning  in 
November,  and  toward  the  culmination  of  plans  some- 
times two  meetings  a  day  were  necessary. 

The  whole  thing  was  planned  on  the  basis  of  a 
County  Fair  with  minstrel  show  (six  performances 
daily),  freaks,  magicians,  etc.,  indoor  circus  in  the 
gymnasium,  moving  picture  show,  and  many  other 
features.  Association  Hall  was  fitted  up  with  booths. 
We  had  a  police  court  with  two  or  three  policemen  who 
arrested  the  president  of  the  Association,  also  the 
president  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  certain 
popular  ministers,  charging  them  with  all  kinds  of 
ludicrous  offenses  against  the  law,  and  exacting  the 
payment  of  fees  anywhere  from  five  cents  to  $1. 
There  were  tally-ho  stands,  barkers,  candy  butchers, 
peanut  peddlers  and  stands  for  all  kinds  of  merchan- 
dise. It  was  necessary  to  sell  in  advance  certain  privi- 
leges and  concessions  to  such  parties  as,  for  example, 
the  "-lee  club,  the  educational  department,  physical  de- 


86  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

For  the  bow  cannot  possibly  stand  always  bent — nor  can  human 
nature  or  human  frailty  subsist  without  some  lawful  recreation. — 
Cervantes. 

partment,  and  so  on.  Booths  in  Exhibition  Hall  netted 
something  over  $^00.  The  lobby  of  the  Central  De- 
partment was  turned  into  a  village  square,  the  scenery 
— painted  especially  for  us — the  decoration,  etc.,  being 
in  harmony  with  the  nature  of  the  entertainment.  It 
was  a  tremendous  task,  because  we  started  out  to  give 
close  attention  to  the  many  details  involved  in  impart- 
ing the  County  Fair  flavor  to  the  show,  and  this  we 
were  told  we  succeeded  in  doing.  About  150  members 
of  the  Central  Department  participated. 

Of  course,  there  was  much  of  local  color;  three  or 
four  fictitious  characters  had  been  created  by  local 
newspaper  men  during  the  five  years  previous ;  for 
instance,  Uncle  Biff  of  the  Cleveland  Plain  Dealer, 
Josh  Wise,  Dina  Dill-Pickle  and  Everett  True  of  the 
Cleveland  Press.  These  grotesque  creatures  of  the 
newspaper  men's  imagination  had  a  real  place  in  the 
mind  of  the  Cleveland  public,  and  helped  the  adver- 
tising. Everett  True,  for  instance,  a  Harvard  man 
weighing  200  pounds,  was  a  policeman.  He  proved  to 
be  a  live  wire.  Josh  Wise  was  the  leading  man  in  the 
minstrel  show,  and  his  make-up  was  a  great  hit. 
Uncle  Biff  was  ubiquitous  and  got  off  some  wise  say- 
ings. 

The  show  ran  New  Year's  day  and  evening,  and 
notwithstanding  the  opening  of  the  Cleveland  Hippo- 
drome, on  the  same  day,  we  had  present  altogether 
about  500  people.  It  enabled  us  to  discover  latent 
talent  in  our  membership  and  also  gave  valuable  busi- 
ness experience  as  to  handling  the  affairs  of  a  corpora- 
tion. We  started  out  to  keep  tabs  on  every  department 
and  upon  every  item  of  expense.  This  had  not  been 
done  at  previous  entertainments.  Mr.  A.  J.  Prentice, 
care  of  the  Cleveland  Foundry  Company,  formerly 
assistant  treasurer,  and  Mr.  T.  T.  Long,  formerly 
employment  director  of  the  Central  Department,  will 
be  able  to  give  expense  items  and  additional  data. 


AMATEUR  ENTERTAINMENTS  87 

Call  no  one  "mad"  because  he  happens  to  have  a  new  idea,  for  time 
may  prove  such  "madness"  a  merely  perfected  method  of  reason. — 
Corelli. 

118.     PARLOR  FIELD  MEET 

An  interesting  parlor  field  meet  was  recently  con- 
ducted in  Chicago  for  new  members.  As  a  method 
of  getting  new  members  acquainted  it  is  certainly 
worth  attention.  Doubtless  some  boys'  departments 
may  get  a  hint  here  for  some  parlor  athletic  meets. 

Event  1,  20-Yard  Dash.  Carrying  a  blown  egg  with  a  tea- 
spoon from  start  to  finish.  The  man  finishing  first  with  a 
whole  egg  receives  first  prize.  He  must  carry  the  egg  in  the 
spoon  by  one  extended  hand,  with  the  other  hand  behind  his 
back. 

Event  2,  Running  Broad  Grin.  Stand  facing  the  audience, 
keeping  a  changeable  but  continuous  pleasant  smile.  The  one 
who  does  this  best  receives  the  first  prize. 

Event  3,  Long  Under  Swing.  Stand  on  a  two-inch  strip 
of  wood  on  the  toes,  reaching  the  hand  back  and  up  between 
the  legs.  The  one  whose  hand  reaches  the  highest  point  behind 
the  back,  without  fouling,  receives  first  prize.  The  foul  is 
falling  backward  from  off  the  stick.  There  is  no  foul  in  fall- 
ing forward,  as  the  competitor  faces  a  tub  of  water. 

Event  4,  Continuous  Glum.  The  man  who  can  stand  longest 
before  the  audience  amid  the  jollying  of  the  crowd  without 
a  faint  smile,  receives  the  prize. 

Event  5,  Candle  Walk.  Carrying  a  lighted  candle  with  one 
arm  extended,  the  other  behind  the  back,  face  forward.  He 
who  finishes  first  with  a  lighted  candle  receives  the  prize. 

Event  6,  Changeable  Horse  Laugh.  The  one  who  can  get 
in  the  most  amusing  and  largest  variety  of  laughs  within  a 
limited  time  receives  a  prize. 

Event  7,  Shot  Put.  Throwing  peanuts  into  the  mouth  of  a 
jug  from  a  distance  of  four  feet.  The  one  putting  the  most 
peanuts  in  in  five  trials  receives  the  prize. 

Event  8,  Balance  Juggle.  Sitting  on  the  pointed  end  of  a 
jug  and  threading  a  needle.  The  one  doing  so  in  the  shortest 
length  of  time  receives  the  prize. 

Event  9,  Long  Lean  Whistle.  The  one  who  cankeep  up  a 
whistle  the  longest  time  without  using  artificial  aid  receives 
the  prize. 

Event  10,  Standing  Broad  Grin.  The  one  who  can  keep  up 
a  pleasant  smi'e  for  the  longest  time 'receives  first  prize. 

Event  11,  Flour  Grasp.  Upon  signal  from  the  starter  the 
one  who  first  secures  a  penny  from  a  pan  of  flour  with  his 
teeth  secures  first  prize;  second  prize  to  the  one  securing  the 
five  cent  piece. 

Event    12,    Floating    Exhibition.     The    competitors    gather 


88  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Measure  your  mind's  height   by   the   shadow  it   casts. — Browning. 

about  a  tub  on  their  knees  with  their  hands  tied  behind  them. 
The  one  who  first  secures  a  floating  apple  with  his  teeth 
receives  the  prize. 

119.     A  COUNTY  FAIR 

Our  entire  building  was  turned  over  to  the  County 
Fair.  We  tried  to  include  as  many  of  the  funny 
features  of  a  regular  agricultural  fair  as  we  could  in 
a  building  of  this  kind.  Many  of  the  business  men 
of  the  town  built  booths  and  exhibited  or  demonstrated 
in  them.  We  had  a  good  poultry  exhibit,  also  a  dog 
show  and  a  number  of  pets,  such  as  monkeys,  owls, 
pigeons,  cats,  a  fox,  guinea  pigs,  and  a  billy-goat 
labeled  "Country  Butt-er"  that  kept  his  corner  free  of 
intruders.  Exhibits  of  paintings,  burnt  wood,  manual 
training,  needlework,  curios,  etc.,  filled  up  the  space 
allotted  to  this  feature  of  the  show.  A  brass  band 
played  familiar  airs ;  fakirs  and  barkers  tried  to  drown 
out  the  band;  many  people,  dressed  up  as  Rubes, 
ambled  blunderingly  about  the  building;  a  doll  rack 
and  a  coon  with  his  head  through  a  canvas  furnished 
constant  fun.  In  fact,  everything  that  could  be  worked 
up  to  interest  the  crowd  was  included.  We  erected 
one  of  our  camp  tents  in  a  large  room  and  held  a  side- 
show in  it.  This  included  the  usual  line  of  freaks, 
such  as  a  fat  woman,  a  snake  charmer,  a  wild  man, 
etc.  A  good  barker  makes  this  one  of  the  funniest 
things  in  the  show. 

In  the  gymnasium  there  was  a  circus  performance, 
while  the  plunge  room,  dressing  room,  two  dark  stair- 
ways and  a  large  hall  were  given  over  to  the  "Trip 
Down  the  River  Styx,"  with  everything  possible  con- 
trived to  make  people  shudder.  Guides  with  dim 
lamps  led  small  parties  through  these  regions.  Every 
one  was  obliged  to  cross  the  plunge  in  a  boat,  meet 
Pluto,  give  an  account  of  himself,  and  have  a  judgment 
of  some  sort  passed  upon  him.  This  feature  was  ^iven 
by  the  boys'  department,  and  was  well  worked  up. — 
M.  C.  Gibson,  Yonngstozun,  Ohio. 


AMATEUR  ENTERTAINMENTS  89 

It  lies   in   our  power   to   attune   the   mind   to    cheerfulness. — Auerbach. 

120.     MASQUERADE  PARTY 

Program 

8.15     Grand  Entry  to  Gymnasium 

Line   forming  in  locker   room. 
Fantastic   Drill. 
8.40     Grotesque  Run. 
9.00     Colored  Wedding. 
Cake   Walk. 
Virginia  Reel. 
Presentation   of   Medals. 
Mats  and  Elephant. 

It  is  of  course  understood  by  all  that  this  will  be 
a  quiet  session,  and  any  one  yelling  above  a  whisper 
or  smiling  aloud  will  be  severely  punished.  One  year, 
with  166  men  on  the  floor,  one  of  the  members  brought 
in  two  big  bags  of  peanuts  to  distribute,  and  he  was 
immediately  set  upon  and  mobbed ;  there  was  a  wild 
scramble  for  peanuts,  and  he  was  picked  up  and  taken 
downstairs  and  thrown  in  -the  tank.  The  next  year 
a  barrel  of  apples  was  distributed,  but  this  time  the 
distributing  was  done  from  the  running  .track. 

The  Fantastic  Drill  consisted  of  such  violent  exer- 
cises as  "Ear  Wiggles,"  "Ikey  Shakes,"  "Mule  Kicks," 
"Elephantine  Gambols,"  etc.  Games  and  contests  in 
which  the  whole  class  took  part  were  the  most  success- 
ful, such  as  feet  foremost  race,  a  line  of  men  sitting 
down  along  each  side  of  the  gymnasium,  faces  up, 
trying  to  get  over  to  the  other  side  on  hands  and  feet ; 
leap  frog  across  the  gymnasium ;  seesaw  with  men 
back  to  back,  arms  locked,  each  in  turn  bending 
forward  and  tilting  the  other  man  up. — Brooklyn 
Central. 

121.     ALICE  IN  WONDERLAND 

In  an  attempt  to  make  the  annual  "Open  House" 
more  attractive  and  to  add  entertainment  to  the  privi- 
lege of  seeing  the  building,  the  Washington  Association 
on  New  Year's  Day,  1910,  presented  "Alice  in  Wonder- 
land." 


AMATEUR  ENTERTAINMENTS  91 

He  who  hesitates   is— well,  he  is  apt  to  get  the  better  of  the  bargain. 
— The  Saturday   Evening   Post. 

In    the    lobby,    as    the    guests    arrived,    they    were 
presented  to  the  "King  and  Queen  of  Hearts"  seated 
on  an  elaborate  throne  amid  decorations  that  trans- 
formed   the   building   into    real   Wonderland.     White 
Rabbits   acted  as  guides   and  directed  the  visitors  to 
the  second  floor  where  the  "March  Hare"  welcomed 
them  to  a  "Mad  Tea  Party."     In  four  nearby  rooms 
were  exhibits  of  the  Association  work  for  the  year, 
and  these  were  presided  over  by  the  "Duchess,"  "The 
Baby,"  "The  Cook"  and  "The  Cheshire  Cat."     On  the 
program  in  the  gymnasium  there  were  "Caucus  Races" 
and  "Lobster  Quadrilles"   (gymnastic  exhibitions  and 
relay  races),  and  solos  by  "The  Mock  Turtle."    A  dual 
aquatic  meet  was  pulled  off  in  a  "Pool  of  Tears,"  and 
match  bowling  games   were   played  on  the   ''Queen's 
Croquet    Grounds."       Into    this    general    plan    were 
worked  recitals  by  the  Mandolin  Club,  the  orchestra 
and  a  Victor  Victrola ;  an  exhibit  of  flying  machines 
and  models ;  a  North  Pole  program  in  the  Boys'  Build- 
ing; a  debate;  receptions  by  the  directors  and  trustees 
and  the  city  pastors,  and  a  fine  concert  at  night,  to 
which  members  and  their  guests  were  invited.     The 
spectacular    feature   proved    very   attractive,    and   the 
costuming  and  various  programs  made  use  of  nearly 
200   men,   most   of   them   volunteer   committeemen.— 
Gerald  Karr  Smith,  Washington,  D.  C. 

122.     "TRIP  TO  THE  MOON" 

This  entertainment  was  in  the  nature  of  a  panoramic 
representation.  The  entire  building  was  used,  a  large 
number  of  men  appearing  in  character  costume. 
Spectators  made  a  good  part  of  the  trip  between 
stations  in  darkness,  with  demons  and  various  nonde- 
script animals  along  the  road.  Some  of  the  features 
were:  gusts  of  wind  (electric  fans)  ;  lightning  (electric 
lights,  strong  reflectors)  ;  thunder  (tin  sheet  and  bowl- 
ing balls).     Among  stations   were  the  banks   of   the 


92  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

The    real   character   of   a   man   is   found   out   by   his   amusements. — Sir 
Joshua    Reynolds. 

River  Styx  (swimming  pool,  with  small  boat  to  ferry 
travelers  over)  ;  Chamber  of  Groans  (full  of  giants)  ; 
Saturn's  Den  (caged  animals)  ;  Moon  Pathway  (lane 
of  good  painting)  ;  Delmonico's  (refreshments)  ; 
Moon  Station  (gallery  of  pretty  girls).  At  four 
points  in -the  trip  half  hour  entertainments  were  given. 
Similar  trips,  outside  the  building,  may  be  made :  for 
example,  in  Seeing  New  York  Cars,  the  Hippodrome, 
Eden  Musee,  Chinatown,  the  Bowery,  Columbia  Uni- 
versity, the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art,  the  Waldorf- 
Astoria,  Dreamland,  The  Tombs,  Broadway,  News- 
paper Row,  etc. — Springfield,  Mass. 

123.  WELSH  EISTEDDFOD 

This  is  conducted  on  the  order  of  a  regular  Welsh 
festival,  only  that  everything  is  burlesqued.  The 
Board  of  Adjudicators  occupy  the  platform,  and  the 
soloists,  poets,  elocutionists  and  quartets  compete  for 
prizes  under  the  rules.  Prizes  range  in  value  from 
ten  to  thirty  cents.  Those  members  who  cannot  sing 
are  all  scheduled  in  the  musical  contest,  while  those 
who  cannot  recite  or  write  original  poetry  are  assigned 
to  the  literary  section.  One  or  two  stars  are  intro- 
duced, according  to  the  Welsh  custom.  For  instance, 
in  our  burlesque,  a  big  fellow  was  dressed  up  and 
advertised  under  the  name  of  "Madam  Human-Chunk, 
contralto" ;  and  we  also  had  a  bass  drum  soloist  in 
Highland  costume  who  played  "The  Campbells  Are 
Coming"  on  the  bass  drum.  This  thing,  handled  by 
some  one  familiar  with  the  Welsh  Eisteddfods,  makes 
a  great  hit.— W.  W.  Adair,  R.  R.  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  New 
York  City. 

124.  LOAN  EXHIBITS,  ETC. 

Our  Association  held  several  full  week  affairs,  more 
especially  in  the  interest  of  the  finances,  but  they  also 
proved   to   be   among  the   best   social    functions    ever 


AMATEUR  ENTERTAINMENTS  93 

Be  not  forgetful  to  entertain  strangers,   for  thereby  some  have  enter- 
tained  angels    unawares. — Bible. 

occurring  in  the  community;  they  brought  together  in 
pleasant  intercourse  the  men  and  women  of  the  vari- 
ous churches  and  classes  of  society,  and  acquaintances 
and  friendships  were  formed  that  were  lasting  and 
helpful.  We  held  several  Art  Loan  Exhibitions,  one 
at  our  own  building  and  the  others  in  a  hired  hall ; 
one  in  which  antiques  were  a  special  feature  was  of 
peculiar  interest.  An  Industrial  Exhibit  filled  the 
body  of  the  largest  hall  in  the  city  writh  exhibits  from 
all  the  leading  manufacturing  plants  and  was  a  revela- 
tion to  hundreds  of  the  citizens.  Refreshments  were 
served  in  connection  with  these  exhibits  and  each 
evening  an  attractive  program  was  put  on ;  these  were 
of  great  variety  and  included  the  best  talent  of  our 
own  and  nearby  cities. — H.  S.  N. 

125.     AMATEUR  NIGHT 

This  is  run  on  much  the  same  basis  as  in  vaudeville 
theatres.  All  amateur  talent  from  the  membership 
is  urged  to  compete  and  to  offer  any  stunt  for  the  edi- 
fication of  the  audience.  A  prize  of  $5  is  offered  for 
the  most  popular  entertainer,  the  audience  to  decide 
who  is  entitled  to  it.  The  hook  is  used  to  remove 
objectionable  entertainers  from  the  stage.  If  prop- 
erly worked  up  and  conducted,  this  form  of  enter- 
tainment may  be  made  very  popular. — W,  W .  Adair, 
R.  R.  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  New  York  City. 

126.     STUNT  CLUB 

The  object  of  this  was  to  give  every  department  of 
the  Association  a  chance  to  take  some  part  on  the  pro- 
gram. The  chemistry  class  put  on  a  ten-minute  exhi- 
bition ;  the  leaders'  corps  of  the  gymnasium  put  on  the 
Highland  fling  in  costume;  the  junior  department  gave 
an  exhibition  of  tableaux ;  the  glee  club  did  its  part, 


94  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

A  merry  heart  doeth  good  like  a  medicine;   but  a  broken  spirit  drieth 
the    bones. — Bible. 

each  different  group  contributing  to  the  program  and 
making  altogether  a  very  novel  entertainment. — H .  G. 
Williamson,  Cincinnati,  O. 

127.     HARVEST  EXHIBITION 

Everybody  dresses  in  funny  costume.  The  men 
have  been  drilled  to  march  so  as  to  form  the  letters 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  As  soon  as  all  the  letters  are  formed, 
the  class  will  halt  and  go  through  a  dumb-bell  drill, 
using  potatoes,  turnips,  carrots,  cabbages,  or  corn  on 
the  ear  in  place  of  dumb-bells;  after  which  the  class 
will  form  in  columns  and  go  through  some  fast 
elephant  work  and  close  with  a  Hayseeds'  March,  the 
men  using  hoes,  rakes,  shovels,  etc. — Frank  S.  Barthol- 
omew, Woonsocket,  R.  I. 

128.     MOCK  TRIAL 

Use  some  recent  interesting  camp  occurrence,  like 
stolen  ice  cream,  or  a  slain  chicken,  for  the  case. 
Have  a  judge,  clerk,  two  lawyers,  witnesses,  jury, 
court  crier,  and  officers.    The  procedure  is  as  follows : 

1.  Clerk  swears  in  jury. 

2.  Lawyers  for  plaintiff  and  defense  tell  jury  about  the  case 
(briefly). 

3.  Witnesses    testify. 

4.  Prisoner  testifies. 

5.  Lawyers  address  jury. 

6.  Judge  charges  jury. 

.     7.     Jury  goes  out   and  returns  with  verdict. 

Throw  all  possible  fun  into  it. 

Plays 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  there  are  at  present  few 
strong,  simple  moral  plays  for  men  amateurs.  Here 
lies  an  opportunity  for  the  right  man  either  (to  write 
a  good  play  or  to  dramatize  for  the  boys  something 


AMATEUR  PLAYS  95 

We  should  take  as  much  interest  in  helping  an  individual  as  in  plan- 
ning an   entertainment. — Edmund   McDonald,   Jr. 

like  "For  the  Honor  of  the  School,"  by  Ralph  H.  Bar- 
bour, or  to  write  one  for  the  men  similar  to  'The  Man 
of  the  Hour." 

The  best  things  written  that  we  have  seen  are  given 
herewith.  (The  publishers  of  these  plays  will  send 
catalogs.) 

129.     COLONIAL  PLAY 

On  Washington's  Birthday  our  Dramatic  Club  pre- 
sented a  special  Colonial  Play.  (Costumes  and 
customs  of  that  time  may  be  studied  from  the  books 
of  Alice  Morse  Earle.)—  Edzv.  V.  Ambler,  Springfield, 
Mass. 

130.     WHERE  TO  FIND  PLAYS 

Plays:  Samuel  French,  26  West  22d  Street,  New 
York  City.  ,.      ^ 

Minstrelsy  and  Vaudeville :  Crest  Trading  Company, 
144  West  37th  Street,  New  York  City. 

Minstrelsy :  Sam  Witmark,  New  York  City. 

Horace  G.  Williamson,  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  knows  of  a  number  of  plays  that  might  be  used. 

"A  Virginia  Romance."  Published  by  White-Smith 
Music  Publishing  Company,  Boston,  New  York  and 
Chicago.     Tried  by  William  H.  Brown,  Buxton,  Iowa. 

"Pedlar  and  Spy."  Written  by  Edward  V.  Ambler, 
Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Springfield,  Mass. 

"Big  Smoke."  Indian  sketch.  Three  acts.  b.  U. 
Van  Ness,  Paterson,  N.  J. 


The  physical  department  presents  a  most  logical  and  fundamental 
opportunity  for  developing  the  social  life  of  boys  and  men.  Yet  it  has 
not  been  sufficiently  recognized  as  such  by  most  secretaries,  either 
general  or  departmental. — Dr.  George  J.  Fisher. 

There  is  a  book  into  which  some  of  us  are  happily  led  to  look  and 
to  look  again  and  to  never  tire  of  looking.  It  is  the  Book  of  Man.  You 
may  open  that  book  whenever  and  wherever  you  find  another  human 
voice  to  answer  yours,  and  another  human  hand  to  take  in  your  own. — 
Walter   Besant. 

Give  us,  O  give  us,  the  man  who  sings  at  his  work!  Be  his  occupa- 
tion what  it  may,  be  it  equal  to  any  of  those  who  follow  the  same 
pursuit  in  silent  sullenness.  He  will  do  more  in  the  same  time,  he 
will  do  it  better,  he  will  persevere  longer.  One  is  scarcely  sensible  of 
fatigue  whilst  he  marches  to  music.  The  very  stars  are  said  to  make 
harmony  as  they  revolve  in  their  spheres.  Wondrous  is  the  strength 
of  cheerfulness! — Carlyle. 

Love   is   the    Rose    of    Life — 

Let  it  bloom  out  in  joyous  rout 

Till  all  the  world  is  rife 

With  sweets  of  loving  kindness, 

Perfumes  of  noble  deeds, 

And  savors  rare,  beyond  compare, 

Of  succor  for  all  needs. — Anon. 


HOLIDAYS 


131.     NEW  YEAR'S 

Our  Association  for  many  years  kept  "open  house" 
each  New  Year's  Day.  The  building  was  put  in 
receiving  order  and  the  parts  to  be  specially  occupied 
made  as  attractive  as  possible.  A  reception  committee 
was  on  duty  by  relays  during  the  entire  day  and  simple 
refreshments  were  served  at  small  tables,  scattered 
through  one  or  two  rooms,  the  ladies  generally  serving. 
"Good"  coffee,  crullers,  walnuts  or  popcorn,  were  the 
standard  refreshments.  In  the  evening  we  always  had 
a  musical  and  literary  program  in  the  auditorium. 
These  occasions  were  very  informal,  very  social,  and 
very  popular. — H.  S.  N. 

132.  OPEN  HOUSE— 1 

The  entire  building  was  open  for  inspection  from 
2.00  to  10.00  p.m.  A  trained  group  of  ushers  made 
guests,  including  the  ladies,  welcome.  A  department 
exhibition  was  held  for  the  enlightenment  of  visitors. 

Program 

2  00-7  30  p.m.     Reception  by  Reception  Committee. 
3.30-5.30  p.m.     Gymnastic  exhibition,  Basket  Ball,   Swimming 

events. 

3  00-7.00  p.m.     Music  by  orchestra  and  Mandolin  Club. 
3.30-7.00  p.m.     Continuous  entertainment  by  many  artists. 
5.30-7.30  p.m.     Refreshments  served. 

8.15  p.m.  Concert   Company,   in   auditorium. 

— West  Side,  New  York. 

133.  OPEN  HOUSE— 2 

The  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Association  throws  the  build- 
ing open  all  day,  exhibiting  all  departments  of  work. 
Much  is  made  of  the  Boat  Club  and  summer  camp 
decorations. 


98  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Learn  to  regard  the  souls  around  you  as  parts  of  some  grand  instru- 
ment. It  is  for  each  of  us  to  know  the  keys  and  stops,  that  we  may 
draw  forth  the  harmonies  that  lie  sleeping  in  the  silent  octaves. — Anon. 

134.     ST.   PATRICK'S  DINNER 

A  St.  Patrick's  Dinner  by  the  Bachelors'  Club  of  the 
Washington  Association  was  very  successful.  The 
place  cards  were  shamrocks,  and  green  candles  lighted 
the  tables.  The  menu  cards  were  printed  in  green  and 
contained  the  following  bill  of  fare : 

"The  Grub." 

Mulligatawny  Soup 
Emerald   Olives  Ould    Sod    Celery 

Roast   Pig 

Irish  Potatoes  Green   Peas 

Spring   Greens 

Rye  Puffs  with  Dublin   Sauce 

Killarney  Salad  Wafers 

"Brick"  Ice  Cream,  Mortar  Cake 

Roquefort  Cheese  Saltines 

Demi  Tasse 

Grapes  in  Cork 

Irish   Mereshams 

Under  the  caption  of  "The  Blarney"  were  listed  such 
toasts  as  "Me  Country,"  "The  Bachelors'  Union"  and 
"The  Dinner  Pail." 

The  toast  on  the  back  of  the  card  was  appropriate : 

"  Sure,   here's   a  long  dhrink  to   St.   Patrick 
An  wan  to  Jarge  Washington  too, 
For  Jarge  was  the  by  who  could  not  tell  a  lie, 
An'  Patrick  tould  only  a  few. 

"  For  Jarge  wor  as  thruthful  as  daylight 
An'  hatin'  all  liars  an'  fakes; 
An'  Pat  shpoke  as  thru  as  Jarge  Wash'n'ton,  too — 
Till  he  started  to  talk  about  shnakes." 

Short  one-act  farces  were  given  between  toasts 
which  exposed  various  men  at  the  table.     A  stage  had 


HOLIDAYS  99 

To  yield  reverence  to  another,  to  hold  ourselves  and  our  lives  at  his 
disposal,  is  not  slavery;  often,  it  is  the  noblest  state  in  which  a  man 
can  live  in  this  world. — Ruskin. 

been  erected  at  the  end  of  the  room,  where  these 
skits  were  given.  They  were  clever  and  greatly 
enjoyed. — Gerald  Karr  Smith,  Washington,  D.  C. 


135.     APRIL  FOOL  SOCIAL 

Portland,  Oregon,  conducted  a  Masked  Stag  Social. 
One  group  was  asked  to  represent  the  characters  in 
the  funny  papers,  another  group  the  different  nation- 
alities ;  several  groups — dormitory  floors  for  instance — 
were  asked  to  prepare  special  stunts  to  be  given  at  the 
expense  of  certain  other  groups. — /.  C.  Clark. 


136.     AN  EASTER  SOCIAL 

An  Easter  social  was  held  last  year  in  the  St.  Louis 
boys'  department-  Any  member  under  fifteen  years  of 
age  was  admitted  by  the  doorkeeper  upon  the  payment 
of  two  hard  boiled  eggs  with  his  name  written  on  each. 
Other  boys  and  parents  were  cordially  invited  to  come 
at  the  price  of  ten  cents  each.  This  carnival  took 
place  at  ten  o'clock  Saturday  morning  and  the  events 
were  as  follows : 

1.  Crowing  contest. 

2.  Rooster  fight — bantam  and  shanghai. 

3.  Egg  tug. 

4.  Egg  turnover  race. 

5.  Egg  race. 

6.  Set  the  hen. 

7.  Chew  the  string. 

8.  Chase  the  feather. 

9.  Egg  passing  contest. 
10.  Relay  race. 

Dr.  H.  S.  Wingert,  physical  director,  was  in  charge 
of  the  performance.  If  the  reader  desires  more  in- 
formation Dr.  Wingert  will  be  glad  to  give  it. — Asso- 
ciation Boys,  Vol:  VI.,  No.  2. 


100 


SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 


Wondrous  is  the  strength  of  cheerfulness,  altogether  past  calculation 
its  powers  of  endurance. — Carlyle. 


137.     VALENTINE  SOCIAL 

INVITATION    AND    PROGRAM 

VALENTINE  SOCIAL 

St.  Valentine's  Eve,  Saturday,  February  13,  1909 

8.15  p.m. 


TERMINAL  R.  R.  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Union  Station 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

V 

MUSIC    READINGS 

Vocal  Solos Wm.  A.  Boyd,  Baritone 

Humorous  Songs Ross  M.  Bright 

Vocal  Duets       .        .        .        .        .        .  Messrs.  Boyd  and  Bright 

Piano  Solos Wm.  T.  Pierson 

_       ,.  (Edwin  Callow 

Readings "|H.  M.  Niswanner 

Orchestral  Music  under  the  direction  of  Rudolph  Boehs 


ACQUAINTANCE  HOUR 


Men  connected  with  Railroad  and  Affiliated  Companies  and  Ladies 
Invited.     No  Charge 


HOLIDAYS  101 

Those  who   are   five   minutes   late   do   more   to   upset   the   order   of   the 
world  than  all   the  anarchists. — The   Saturday   Evening   Post. 


SOUVENIR    PROGRAM 

VALENTINE  SOCIAL 

Saturday  Evening,  February  13,  1909 

Terminal  R.   R.  Y.   M.  C.  A. 

WASHINGTON.  D.  G. 


Pages 
Edna  McCauley        Robert  Ryon 

Selection Orchestra 

Under  direction  of  Rudolph  Boehs 

Baritone  Solo W.  A.  Boyd 

"Love  Me  Lots  and  Love  Me  all  the  Time" 

Piano  Solo— "On  the  Avenue" W.  T.  Pierson 

Reading— "Kissing  Cup's  Race"  .        .        .  Edwin  Callow 

Selection Orchestra 

Baritone  Solo R-  M.  Bright 

"Ephraim  Johnson  Don't  Live  Here  no  More" 

Reading H.  M.  Niswanner 

Baritone  Solo W.  A.  Boyd 

"My  Love  for  You  is  like  the  Stars  that  Shine" 

Reading Edwin  Callow 

"Dot  Little  Cripple  Boy"  and  other  stories 

Baritone  Solo— "Don't  Take  Me  Home"   ...         R.  M.  Bright 

Duet— "Who  Do  You  Love?"        .        .        •    Messrs.  Boyd  and  Bright 


Selection 


Orchestra 


ACQUALNTANCE    HOUR 
Introduce  Your  Friends  Be  Sociable 


102  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

I  am  a  part  of  all  that  I  have  met. — Tennyson. 

138.     A  LINCOLN  EVENING 

This  should  be  made  a  good-citizenship  social. 
Decorate  with  red,  white  and  blue,  and  have  a  picture, 
statuette  or  bust  of  Lincoln  in  a  conspicuous  place, 
with  a  background  of  evergreen  shaped  like  a  shield. 
The  following  program  may  be  rendered. 

Music. 

Paper,  "Lincoln's  Boyhood  and  Youth." 

Paper  or  address,  "Lincoln  as  a  Citizen  and  Lawyer." 

Reading,  "Incidents  of  Lincoln's  Life  as  President." 

Music. 

Reading,  Extract  from  Lincoln's  Speech,  No.  30  in  "Platform 

Pearls"    (published   by   the   Funk  &  Wagnalls   Co.,   New 

York  City). 
Address,  "Secrets  of  Lincoln's  Success."     By  prominent  man. 
Music. 

Small  paper  flags,  colored  with  the  stars  and  stripes 
on  one  side,  and  white  on  the  other,  may  have  written 
on  the  white  side  a  good-citizenship  conversation  topic 
as,  for  instance,  "What  would  be  Lincoln's  attitude 
toward  the  liquor  traffic  of  today?"  "The  modern 
slave,"  "Is  patriotic  citizenship  declining?"  "The  saloon, 
the  church,  and  the  ballot-box,"  "How  to  cultivate 
patriotism,"  "Analogy  between  war  with  Spain  and 
war  with  the  saloon,"  "Is  America  free?"  etc.  There 
should  be  four  flags  in  each  set,  worded  alike. 

Distribute  the  flags,  and  let  each  group  of  four  find 
one  another  and  discuss  for  ten  minutes  the  topic  fall- 
ing to  them.  During  this  time  refreshments  may  be 
'  served. 

Close  the  evening  with  familiar  patriotic  songs, 
interspersed  with  a  few  selections  from  "Silver  Tones," 
the  "Clarion  Call,"  or  some  similar  selection  of  stir- 
ring temperance  music. — From  "Eighty  Pleasant  Even- 
ings/' United  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor. 

Other  reference  books:  Abraham  Lincoln,  Man  and 
Boy — Morgan;  Lincoln,  Master  of  Men — Rothschild: 
Speeches  (Introduction  by  Ambassador  James  Bryce) 
— Everyman's  Library. 


HOLIDAYS  103 

Wishing,  of  all  employments,  is  the  worst. — Young. 

139.     LINCOLN'S  AND  WASHINGTON'S 
BIRTHDAYS 

Nearly  every  year  we  celebrate  either  Lincoln's  or 
Washington's  birthday.  The  plan  is  to  invite  various 
organizations,  including  lodges,  as  well  as  the  patriotic 
bodies,  to  one  of  the  largest  halls  in  the  city,  having  a 
noted  speaker  for  the  occasion.  It  has  always  been 
successful. — S.  B.  Groner,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

140.     WASHINGTON'S  BIRTHDAY 

A  Washington  dinner  may  be  served  on  Washing- 
ton's birthday  by  the  Debating  Club,  with  the  cherry 
tree  in  the  middle  of  the  table,  adorned  by  real  cherries, 
and  the  decorations  otherwise  appropriate.  The  menu 
is  printed  on  small  hatchets.  Speeches  on  Washington 
should  be  made  by  guests  specially  selected  for  their 
ability  to  treat  the  subject. — B.  C.  Pond,  Pater  son,  N.  J. 

141.     MEMORIAL  DAY 

Events  may  include  an  excursion  to  some  accessible 
historic  spot;  a  good  luncheon;  brief  patriotic  service, 
dwelling  upon  the  place  visited ;  athletics  and  baseball. 
New  York  City  Associations  combine,  going  to  Cran- 
berry Lake. 

Memorial  Day  is  an  anniversary  the  significance  of 
which  should  not  be  forgotten  whatever  the  general 
trend  of  the  day's  occupation;  even  if  on  a  hike  it 
could  be  arranged  to  have  some  of  the  old  songs  sung 
and  some  of  the  old  stories  told,  and  in  any  event  the 
old  flag  can  be  taken  along.  We  should  not  allow  our 
love  for  sport  to  drown  out  the  memories  of  the  events 
the  holiday  we  enjoy  was  created  to  commemorate. 

142.     FOURTH  OF  JULY 

"Uncle  Sam"  in  appropriate  costume  may  receive 
the  guests.     Flags   and   bunting  should   decorate  the 


104  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

If  all  the  year  were  playing  holidays, 

To  sport  would  be  as  tedious  as  to  work. — Shakespeare. 

walls,  together  with  portraits  of  famous  Americans, 
which  may  be  made  an  occasion  for  a  guessing  contest. 
Conduct  a  "post  office,"  the  letters  consisting  of  ex- 
tracts from  patriotic  speeches,  or  the  latest  war  news, 
enclosed  in  envelopes  of  red,  white  and  blue,  or  with 
a  flag  in  one  corner;  or,  if  convenient,  enclose  in  the 
envelopes  representations  of  the  American  flag.  The 
following  program  has  been  rendered  on  one  such 
occasion : 

Chorus,  "The  Star-Spangled  Banner." 

Recitation,  "Independence  Bell." 

Solo,  "The  Dying  Soldier,"  or  "The  Soldier's  Farewell,"  an 

adaptation  of  "Ehren  on  the  Rhine." 
Recitation,  "Old  Ironsides." 

Reading,  "The  Antiquitv  of  Freedom"  (Bryant). 
Chorus,  "Red,  White  and  Blue." 

Other  choruses  might  be  added  or  substituted,  such 
as  "Fair  Native  Land,"  "Flag  of  Our  Country,"  or 
"The  Soldiers'  Chorus."  A  list  of  historic  battles, 
with  the  generals  commanding  them,  should  be  pre- 
pared in  advance.  The  name  of  each  battle  may  be 
written  on  a  slip  of  paper,  or  miniature  flag,  and  the 
name  of  the  commanding  general,  correspondingly 
numbered,  on  another  slip  or  flag.  These  may  be 
passed  and  matched  to  arrange  partners  for  refresh- 
ments, which  may  consist  of  saltines,  cheese,  and 
phosphate  of  wild  cherry. — From  "Eighty  Pleasant 
Evenings,"  United  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor. 


143.     LABOR  DAY  SOCIAL 

If  your  Association  includes  among  its  young  men 
members  a  number  of  good  singers,  by  all  means  have 
the  "Anvil  Chorus"  from  "II  Trovatore."  The  rooms 
should  be  large.  The  singers,  dressed  to  represent 
blacksmiths,  with  red  flannel  shirts  and  leather  aprons, 
hammer  in  hand,  enter  and  sing  the  chorus  to  a  piano 
accompaniment.     Anvils  should  be  provided,  and  dur- 


HOLIDAYS  105 

He   that   is   thy   friend   indeed, 

He   will   help   thee   at   thy   need. — Anon. 

ing  the  refrain  the  time  is  marked  by  regular  blows  on 
these  with  the  hammers.  Previous  to  the  rendering  of 
this  chorus  there  may  be  other  music  and  a  short 
literary  program,  such  as  the  following: 

1.  Reading,  Sidney  Lanier's  poem,  "The  Symphony." 

2.  Address,   "Our   Comrade,  the  Laborer." 

3.  Reading    from    Chapter   8    or    9    of    Henderson's    "Social 

Spirit  in  America." 

4.  Paper,  "Manual  Training  in  Schools"  or  "Sloyd." 

Then  the  "Anvil  Chorus"  may  be  introduced,  after 
which  games  may  be  played.  There  may  be  a  sale  of 
articles  representing  different  handicrafts,  the  proceeds 
to  start  a  fund  in  the  Association's  treasury  for  the 
special  purpose  of  aiding  an  industrial  school  or 
similar  institution.  If  desired,  a  debate  may  be  added 
to  the  program,  such  as,  "Resolved,  That  the  omission 
of  church  privileges  from  settlements  like  the  Ruskin 
community  is  the  fault  of  the  church." — L.  M.  H. 
From  ''Eighty  Pleasant  Evenings/'  United  Society  of 
Christian  Endeavor. 

144.     HALLOWEEN  MYSTERY  RAMBLE 

Secure  the  use  of  a  farmhouse  and  the  services  of 
the  lady  of  the  house,  in  the  country  within  walking 
distance  of  the  Association  building,  three  or  four 
miles  away.  Secure  one  leader  for  every  six  boys 
(sixty  boys  make  up  the  right  number  to  handle  on 
such  an  occasion).  Leave  the  building  at  six  o'clock. 
On  the  way  out  have  the  leaders  tell  their  respective 
groups  ghost  stories  and  Indian  tales,  suitable  to  the 
history  or  legends  of  the  community.  Witches,  ghosts, 
and  sprites  appear  at  different  stages  of  the  journey. 
Have  a  mock  trial  in  the  woods  and  condemn  the 
prisoner  to  some  horrible  fate.  Repair  to  the  farm- 
house for  a  feast  of  pumpkin  pie,  doughnuts,  apples 
and  coffee,  and  then  proceed  homeward.  The  cost  is 
ten  cents  each. — L.  IV.  DeGast,  Springfield,  Mass. 


106  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

O!    it  is   excellent  to   have  a  giant's  strength;    but   it  is  tyrannous  to 
use  it  like  a  giant. — Shakespeare. 

145.     HALLOWEEN 

EXPLORATION  OF  MAMMOTH  CAVE 

Conduct  people  through  long  passageways  lined  with 
black  cloth,  through  large  boxes,  up  inclines  and  down 
stairs  to  Chamber  of  Horrors  (see  Trip  to  the  Moon, 
No.  122).  Bring  them  finally  to  the  River  Styx,  where 
the  ghostly  ferryman,  in  a  real  boat,  ferries  them  across 
the  swimming  pool  and  presents  them  to  the  Deities  of 
Mythology.  Wind  up  with  the  Ghost  Minstrels. — 
B.  C.  Pond,  Paterson,  N.  J. 

146.  MASQUERADE 

Halloween  night  we  gave  up  the  old-fashioned  things 
— ducking  for  apples,  etc.,  and  had  a  fancy  dress  affair. 
AH  who  took  part  had  to  wear  costumes.  Prizes  were 
given  to  the  wearers  of  the  funniest  and  the  best.  A 
grand  march  proceeded  through  the  gymnasium  with 
fancy  steps,  which  had  been  practiced  in  "gym"  a  week 
or  so.  Afterward  there  was  a  sketch  given  by  the 
boys,  followed  by  a  few  appropriate  recitations  and 
stories  around  the  fireplace.  Refreshments  were 
cocoa,  doughnuts  and  apples,  the  boys  paying  five  cents 
each  for  them.  Everything  was  run  by  the  boys 
themselves. — Boys'  Department,  West  Side,  N.  Y. 

147.     ELECTION  NIGHT  RETURNS 

.  Instrumental  music,  indoor  ball  game  between  two 
teams  of  business  men,  election  returns  bulletined, 
coffee  and  doughnuts,  at  Hoquiam,  Wash.,  brought 
the  largest  crowd  ever  inside  the  building  at  one  time. 
Competition — returns  in  new  hotel  lobby  and  at  electric 
theatre.     The  Association  had  the  largest  crowd. 

The  best  thing  in  years  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  best  ser- 
vice in  town  and  a  thousand  men  out.  It  was  adver- 
tising, too,  that  brought  a  lot  of  men  to  the  Associa- 
tion. 


HOLIDAYS  107 

When  an  employee  really   knows   more   than   the  head  of  the   firm  he 
knows  enough  not  to  boast  of  it.— The    Saturday   Evening   Post. 

The  fullest  and  quickest  returns  of  any  in  the  city 
were  given  at  the  Spokane  Association,  2000  men  being 
present. 

Ann  Arbor  kept  open  the  longest  and  furnished 
quick  and  accurate  reports  election  night.  Young  men 
had  a  local  option  debate  while  waiting  for  the  slowest 
township  to  report. 

A  wire  inside  and  a  screen  across  the  street  at  Wau- 
kesha, supper  and  refreshments,  gained  many  new 
friends  among  the  1500  townspeople. 

Charleston,  S.  C,  had  2500  men  in  the  building 
election  night— coming  and  going  up  to  midnight. 
Stereopticon  was  used  in  the  gymnasium. 

Another  Association  threw  returns  on  a  sheet  hung 
across  the  street.     Thousands  watched  outside. 

148.     THANKSGIVING  PROGRAM 

1.     "My   Cup   Runneth   Over." 

3!     Make  from  the  word  "Thanksgiving"  as  many  words  as 
possible:   proper  names  excepted. 

4.  Song. 

5.  Dinner  Menu. 

(1)  Soup.     Imitation  reptile. 

(2)  Fish.     "Collect  on  Delivery.'  , 

(3)  Roasts.     The  country  of  the  Crescent,  and  Adam  s 

wife,  served  with  a  sauce  of  what  undid  her. 

(4)  Vegetables.     Two  kinds  of  toes  ne'er  found  on  man 

o?  beast;  a  mild  term  for  stealing;  what  your  heart 
does.  .  ,  ,, 

(5)  Puddings.     What  we  say  to  a  nuisance,  and  exactly 

perpendicular. 

(6)  Pies.     An  affected  gait,  and  related  to  a  well. 

(7)  Fruit.     A  kind  of  shot. 
6      Song  or  instrumental  music. 

7'.     Five  grains  of  corn  in  memory  of  our  forefathers  (game). 
8.     Harlequin. 

a.  Cat's  Cradle. 

b.  Bean  Porridge  Hot. 

c.  Laughing. 

d.  Whistling. 

e.  Silence  is  Golden. 


108  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

What  can    the     Creator    see    with    greater    pleasure    than    a    happy 
creature  ? — Lessing. 

f.  Refreshments. 

g.  Conversation,  "If  not  yourself,  who  would  you  rather 

be?" 
9.     Popping  corn,  etc. 
10.     Songs,  etc. 

—Buffalo  Central  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

149.     THANKSGIVING— 1 

Last  Thanksgiving  Day  we  gave  a  dinner  for  those 
away  from  home.  While  the  attendance  was  not  large, 
the  dinner  met  a  need,  and  was  very  successful.  Six 
nations  were  represented  and  several  states.  The  pro- 
gram was  most  informal,  each  man  being  asked  to  do 
a  stunt — he  had  been  notified  about  this  before  the 
dinner.  Everybody  got  acquainted,  had  a  good  time, 
and  as  a  result  some  men  were  lined  up  for  service  in 
the  Association. — Bradshaw,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


150.     THANKSGIVING— 2 

Dinner  was  served,  with  music,  at  seventy-five  cents, 
"for  those  away  from  home.''  An  afternoon  enter- 
tainment in  Reception  Hall  proved  attractive.  It  was 
followed  in  the  evening  by  an  auditorium  entertain- 
ment. 


151.     WITH  THE  Y.  W.  C.  A. 

On  the  evenings  of  Thanksgiving  and  Washington's 
Birthday  we  always  have  a  joint  social  with  the  Young 
Women's  Christian  Association  of  our  city.  Some- 
times it  is  in  the  form  of  a  reception,  but  more  often  it 
consists  of  different  stunts.  A  large  committee  com- 
posed of  representatives  of  the  two  Associations  work 
for  a  month  or  more  on  the  program,  and  the  stunts 
are  all  executed  by  members  of  the  Associations. 

Some  years  ago,  just  following  the  St.  Louis  Exposi- 
tion, one  of  these  entertainments  took  the  form  of  a 


HOLIDAYS  109 

The  winds  and  waves  are  always  on  the  side  of  the  ablest  navigators. 
— Gibbon. 

burlesque  on  the  Pike.  Another  time  it  was  an  Old- 
Fashioned  County  Fair.  On  Thanksgiving  of  last 
year  we  had  a  Festival  of  Nations ;  groups  of  young 
people  represented  characteristic  customs  of  different 
nations  in  several  different  rooms  from  specially  im- 
provised booths.  One  of  the  features  was  the  German 
Restaurant  in  the  cafe,  with  the  German  band,  and  to 
some  extent  typical  German  dishes,  the  room,  of 
course,  being  decorated  as  far  as  possible  to  resemble 
the  typical  German  Rathskeller.  On  Washington's 
Birthday  two  years  ago  we  had  Washington's  Birthday 
Magazine,  in  which  various  tableaux  were  worked  out 
for  the  illustrations ;  stories  were  recited  and  the  adver- 
tising pages  were  variously  represented  in  pantomime. 
On  Lincoln's  Birthday  last  year  in  a  joint  social,  events 
in  the  life  of  Lincoln  were  put  on  in  pantomime, 
tableau  and  recitation. 

We  have  found  these  joint  socials  with  the  Y.  W. 
C.  A.  very  delightful.  They  supply  an  element  often 
lacking  where  the  men  undertake  entertainments  alone. 
— 6".  Wirt  Wiley,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

152.     A  SNOWBALL  PARTY 

FOR    THE    DORMITORY    MAN 

This  is  for  a  Christmas  social,  and  is  based  chiefly, 
as  is  the  "Christmas  Stocking  Party,"  on  the  descrip- 
tions given  by  Caroline  Harris  Gallagher  in  The 
Household. 

A  large  pine  tree  in  the  center  of  the  room  is  loaded 
with  white  packages  of  all  sizes  and  shapes,  which  look 
like  huge  snowballs.  Bright-colored  decorations,  but 
no  candles,  are  added.  On  a  table,  close  at  hand,  is  a 
box  filled  with  pieces  of  cardboard  about  two  inches 
square,  each  bearing  a  number.  The  packages  on  the 
tree  are  marked  with  corresponding  numbers.  Each 
person  draws  a  card  from  the  box,  and  then  looks  for 
the  package  bearing  the   duplicate   number.     Usually 


110 


SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 


The  kindergarten  child  never  forgets;    because  he  is  never  told  any- 
thing which  he  had  not  first  wanted  to  know. — Rollins. 

the  search  will  be  longer  than  might  be  supposed, 
and  many  of  the  parcels  are  hung  so  high  that  a  step- 
ladder  standing  near  must  be  called  into  service.  No 
assistance  should  be  asked  or  given.  When  the  mys- 
terious snowballs  are  unwrapped,  all  sorts  of  pretty, 
quaint,  and  funny  articles  appear.  Guests  in  the  party 
described  drew  several  cards  apiece  and,  as  the  gifts 
are    all    inexpensive,    this    might    answer    in    a    small 


^1a          fay '  u4*! 

/ 

Bqm 

ttnii  ''iBH 

'      \ 

|HKf :  Wf 

Pa 

I 

EWHST .  U;-"';- 

■t^T^ia^ 

A  WINTER  SETTING 


gathering.  Scarf  pins  and  dolls,  silver  penholders  and 
tin  horns,  dainty  ornaments  and  shrill  whistles,  books 
and  cow-bells  were  among  the  countless  fruits  growing 
on  this  remarkable  tree. 


153.     CHRISTMAS   PARCEL  DELIVERY 

Secure  as  many  automobiles  as  possible  for  that 
morning,  December  25  ;  advertise  through  the  Woman's 
Auxiliary  that  the  Santa  Claus  parcel  delivery  will  be 
conducted  by  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  boys'  depart- 


HOLIDAYS  111 

Let   not   the    emphasis    of  hospitality   lie   in   bed   and   board;    but   let 
truth  and  love  and  honor  and  courtesy  flow  in  all  thy  deeds. — Emerson. 

ment.  Every  woman  is  willing  to  call  up  on  the 
telephone  or  to  send  postal  cards  a  few  days  before. 
Dress  boys  in  regular  Santa  Claus  costume.  In  so  far 
as  possible  call  for  parcels  and  packages  on  the  day 
before  so  that  you  can  have  one  central  depot  from 
which  all  can  be  sent  out.  Charge  the  regular  parcel 
delivery  rates  and  you  will  have  no  difficulty  with  the 
regular  parcel  delivery  men.  Last  year  we  were  asked 
to  help  them  out,  as  it  is  a  busy  season  for  most  of 
them.  Often  the  boys  are  given  tips  by  the  people  to 
whom  the  article  is  delivered,  in  addition  to  the  fee 
paid  by  the  sender.  There  are  no  costs  except  those 
of  advertising. — DeGast,  Springfield,  Mass. 


154.  CHRISTMAS  OR  THANKSGIVING 

BASKET 

A  boy  in  Washington  voluntarily  posted  this  request 
on  the  bulletin:  "Place  your  name  here  if  you  would 
like  to  help  a  poor  but  worthy  family  receive  a  Christ- 
mas dinner.     Leave  ten  cents  at  the  office." 

The  boy  went  to  the  Associated  Charities  and  ob- 
tained the  name  of  a  family,  then  took  three  boys  with 
him  and  delivered  the  basket.  It  was  a  pleasure  to 
see  the  boys  respond.     It  made  them  happy. 

155.  CHEER  UP  THE  RAILROAD  MEN 

Our  Railroad  Association  has  tried  the  scheme  at 
Christmas  and  New  Year's  Day  of  having  a  table  set 
in  the  lobby  or  main  room,  spread  with  cakes,  oranges, 
etc.,  and  serving  coffee  to  each  railroad  man  who  comes 
in,  thus  making  the  day  seem  like  a  little  out  of  the 
ordinary.  The  men  liked  it  and  asked  when  it  was  to 
be  done  again.— F.  L.  Stacy,  B.  &  O.  Y.  M.  C.  A., 
Baltimore,  Md. 


112  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

They   are   kind  who   give  us  not  what   they  think  we   ought   to   want, 
but  what  they  know  we  do  want. — Rollins. 

156.     GETTING  MONEY  FOR  THANKSGIVING 
DINNER 

Our  plan  for  this  Thanksgiving  dinner  is  to  get 
subscriptions  from  the  ladies  of  the  city.  This  has 
been  done  through  a  special  ladies'  committee,  and  all 
business  is  handled  by  this  committee.  Letters  asking 
for  the  subscriptions  are  first  sent  to  a  selected  list  and 
then  about  a  week  afterward  a  gentle  reminder  follows 
the  first  letter.  In  this  way  we  secured  last  year  $700. 
A  program  consisting  principally  of  toasts  by  promi- 
nent men  of  the  city  was  given.  A  reception  com- 
mittee composed  of  members  of  the  board  and  their 
wives  welcomed  the  guests.  Afterwards  cards  were 
sent  to  the  subscribers  thanking  them  for  their  sub- 
scriptions. This  was  a  great  success,  and  we  are  trying 
the  same  thing  this  year. — George  D.  Beckwith, 
Chicago, 


157.     CHRISTMAS— 1 

FOR  THE  MEN   WHO  LIVE  IN   THE  BUILDING 

Two  weeks  before  Christmas  the  social  secretary 
wrote  to  the  home  folks  of  all  the  men  living  in  the 
building,  and  intercepted  the  gifts  to  them.  By 
Christmas  Eve  he  had  several  hundred  of  these,  and 
very  few  of  the  men  knew  why  they  had  not  "heard 
from  home."  The  following  invitation  secured  the 
men;  sixty  of  them  came.  They  joined  hands,  did  a 
run  around  the  well-filled  trees,  and  then  sat  down  to 
sing  "Joy  to  the  World"  and  receive  their  gifts. 
Beside  those  from  home,  there  were  many  from  the 
other  fellows,  and  lots  of  jokes  that  caused  great  fun. 
After  the  tree  had  been  picked,  a  free  buffet  breakfast 
was  served  by  the  Association,  and  songs  and  speeches 
filled  up  two  jolly  hours.  It  was  a  great  day  to  those 
men  awav  from  home  and  thev  love  the  Association 


HO  LID  A  YS 


115 


At  Christmas  play  and  make  good  cheer, 

For    Christmas    comes    but    once    a    year. — Daily    Diet. 


At  their  request  it  is 


that  made  such  a  time  possible, 
to  become  an  annual  custom. 

Dear  Bachelor: 

The  club  is  to  have  a  big  time  on  Christmas  Day,  so  get 
ready!  The  plan  is  this:  A  real,  live  Christmas  tree  in  the 
Assembly  Hall  on  Christmas  morning  at  eight  o'clock.  Come 
in  pajamas  and  bathrobes,  as  you  did  when  you  were  a  kid 
at  home.  There  will  be  gifts  for  everybody,  but,  to  make  it 
more  interesting,  see  that  your  roommate  or  next  door  neigh- 
bor or  chum  gets  something  (any  old  thing).  Turn  these  in 
to  Gerry  Smith  by  four  o'clock  the  day  before.  Don't  bother 
about  breakfast.  There  will  be  something  to  eat  after  the 
tree  is  picked.  Everybody  get  ready  for  one  more  good  time. 
Sincerely, 

Gerald  Karr  Smith, 

Washington,   D.   C. 


MEET  ME  AT  THE  B.  &  O.  Y    M.  C 
A.    CHRISTMAS    AFTERNOON 
FROM  2  TO  6  O'CLOCK  P   M 


Jftty  Dear -...,. 

Sanla  Claus 

invites  you  to  come  and  meet  him 

on  Christmas  'Day 

December  25th,  1909 

at  the 

B.&O.Y   M.  C  Jl. 

from  2  to  6  0  doc/?  P   M. 

By  presenting  this  invitation  to  me 
at  that  lime,  you  will  receive  a 
little  gift  off  the  Big  Christmas 
Tree. 

Yours,  for  a  Jilerry  Christmas 
and  a  Bright  and  Happy  Ncu) 
Year. 

SANTA  CLAUS. 


158.     CHRISTMAS— 2 

A  Christmas  Day  entertainment  was  given  for  the 
children  and   friends  of  the  employees  of  the  shops 


114  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Our  chief  want   in   life   is   somebody   who   shall   make   us   do   what  we 
can.     This  is  the  service  of  a  friend. — Emerson. 

and  tin  mills,  and  for  the  members  of  the  Association. 
In  fact,  we  invite  all  children  who  apply  to  us  for 
invitations.  Last  year  we  gave  them  to  1200  children. 
We  had  our  auditorium  gaily  decorated.  It  was  a 
veritable  toyland.  The  cards  of  invitation,  which  the 
children  are  asked  to  bring  with  them,  lead  to  a  meet- 
ing with  Santa  Claus,  who  gives  them  a  toy  from  his 
Christmas  tree.  This  tree  is  gayly  decorated.  Last 
year  we  had  it  illuminated  with  over  300  lights.  We 
have  done  this  now  for  three  years,  and  it  has  been 
one  of  the  best  drawing  features  that  we  have  ever 
had.— Wm.  C.  Montignani,  B.  &  O.  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  So. 
Cumberland. 


DEPARTMENTAL  SPECIALTIES 

Physical 

159.     THE   SOCIAL  LIFE  OF  THE  PHYSICAL 
DEPARTMENT* 

The  physical  department  provides  many  natural 
conditions  for  promoting  the  social  life  of  men  and 
boys.  Men  gather  in  the  gymnasium  in  groups,  work 
together  in  drills,  wear  a  common  dress,  associate  with 
each  other  on  teams  in  friendly  yet  earnest  contest,  and 
shout  and  cheer  together.  Good,  hearty  fellowship 
should  prevail,  as  there  is  every  natural  stimulus  for 
its  creation.  Musical  accompaniment  to  the  mass  work 
and  the  addition  of  folk  dancing  add  much  of  zest  to 
what  has  often  hitherto  been  tedious  work. 

The  personality  of  the  leader  of  the  mass  drill  has 
much  to  do  with  creating  a  wholesome  social  spirit. 
By  the  enthusiastic  abandon  with  which  he  throws 
himself  into  his  work,  by  witty  interpolations  of 
speech,  by  a  happy  and  musical  method  of  counting, 
by  getting  'the  men  to  sing  in  rhythm  with  the  muscular 
movements,  he  adds  much  to  the  pleasure  with  which 
the  men  engage  in  the  work. 

During  the  few  minutes  of  breathing  intervals  be- 
tween exercises,  men  who  are  prominent  in  Associa- 
tion work  or  in  physical  training  may  be  introduced  for 
two  minute  speeches,  and  the  members  given  a  chance 
to  cheer  both  the  men  and  the  Association,  about  which 
something  friendly  is  sure  to  be  said. 

Each  class  program  should  have  some  event  which  by 
its  very  nature  stimulates  the  social  spirit.  After  all,  it 
is   not  the   formal   functions   that   develop  the   social 


*  Watch  Physical  Training,  124  East  28th  St.,  New  York  City,  and 
"Physical  Department"  column  of  Association  Men  (same  address)  for 
physical    department    social   successes. 

For  games  for  the  gymnasium  and  playground,  see  "Indoor  and  Out- 
door Gymnastic  Games,"  and  "Games  for  the  Hayground,  Home, 
School   and   Gymnasium,"  by  Jessie  H.   Bancroft. 


PHYSICAL  DEPARTMENT  117 

No   man   ought   to    tell   an   anecdote   more   than   thrice. — Thackeray. 

spirit,  but  rather  the  spirit  in  which  the  work  is  con- 
ducted and  the  part  which  the  men  themselves  have 
in  it.  As  far  as  possible  democracy  should  be  devel- 
oped. Classes  should  be  organized  with  the  usual  offi- 
cers;  tournaments,  carnivals,  contests,  all  should  be 
managed  by  the  members.  Suggestions  and  coopera- 
tion should  be  invited  and  the  men  should  feel  a  sense 
of  ownership  and  responsibility.  Where  the  members, 
too,  are  enlisted  in  some*  form  of  community  effort,  it 
helps  greatly  to  dignify  the  membership  and  band  them 
all  together  in  mutual  friendship. 

The  basis,  therefore,  of  the  social  life  in  the  physical 
department,  in  my  judgment,  is  the  selection  of  social 
types  of  work,  such  as  group  games  and  mass  work; 
the  use  of  mildly  stimulating  competition;  a  happy 
personality  on  the  part  of  the  physical  director  and  his 
leaders  ;  brisk,  orderly,  yet  informal  direction  of  the 
activities ;  a  spirit  of  democracy  and  initiative  on  the 
part  of  the  members ;  a  constantly  varying  program ; 
and  some  serious  unselfish  work  for  each  member  to 
do  for  some  one  else. — George  J.  Fisher,  M.  D. 

160.     REPRODUCTION  OF  GREEK  GAMES 

The  Physical  Department  offers  many  more  oppor- 
tunities for  promoting  refined  and  interesting  types  of 
entertainment  than  are  usually  taken  advantage  of. 
The  editor  invites  suggestions  for  unique  types  of 
exhibitions  which  have  been  found  not  only  entertain- 
ing but  educational. 

The  girls  of  the  freshman  and  sophomore  classes  at 
Barnard  College  held  recently  what  was  termed  their 
annual  Hellenic  contest.  All  the  contestants  were 
dressed  in  Greek  costumes.  The  Greek  events 
included  the  torch  race  and  dances  to  Apollo  and 
Bacchus.  Laurel  wreaths  were  awarded  to  the 
winners  and  there  was  a  triumphal  march  of  the  con- 
testants. Here  is  a  suggestion  of  a  refined  type  of 
athletic  meet  that  would  prove  immensely  entertaining 


118  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

The  man  who  halted  on  third  base   to   congratulate  himself  failed  to 
make  a  home  run. — The  Saturday   Evening  Post. 

and  exceedingly  educational,  especially  if  held  out  of 
doors,  as  the  Greek  games  were.  Many  unique  events 
could  be  introduced,  such  as  discus  throwing  in  the 
Greek  style,  hurling  the  javelin,  the  various  meter 
races,  crowned  by  a  modified  form  of  the  marathon 
race  now  so  popular.  The  torch  race  with  flaming  fire 
would  be  thrilling.  Some  of  our  dancing  experts 
could  adapt  the  Greek  dances  for  use  by  men  or  boys, 
and  these,  performed  in  Greek  costume,  would  prove 
inspiring. 

Greek  methods  could  be  used  in  the  conduct  of  the 
meet,  such  as  the  introduction  of  the  contestants  by 
the  herald,  the  starting  of  events  by  trumpet  blast,  and 
the  final  crowning  of  the  victors  with  laurel  wreaths, 
and  perhaps  a  statuette  to  the  point  winner.  Even 
chariot  races  could  be  imitated  by  having  teams  of 
a  score  of  boys  in  costume  draw  chariots  of  crude 
construction. 

Other  national  games  offer  suggestions  for  interest- 
ing exhibitions.  An  international  meet  might  be  held 
with  games  and  folk  dances  portrayed,  representing  the 
athletic  sports  and  recreations  of  the  different  nations. 
Take  as  illustrations  Irish  events,  such  as  Gaelic  foot- 
ball and  the  Irish  lilt  dance ;  English  soccer  and  cricket 
matches;  archery;  demonstrations  of  the  use  of  the 
boomerang;  exhibitions  on  stilts  as  used  by  some 
countries.  Skeeing  could  likewise,  under  appropriate 
circumstances,  be  demonstrated.  Bowling  on  the 
.green  and  diabolo  also  have  some  possibilities.  Some 
of  these  require  little  equipment,  and  would  prove  an 
innovation. — From  "Physical  Training/'  Vol.  J,  No.  5. 

161.     ATHLETIC  OUTING 

Washington,  D.  C.,  has  found  the  following  success- 
ful :  Announce  a  Saturday  outing,  stating  time  of 
leaving  the  building,  car  fare  expense,  and  articles  to 
carry,  such  as  lunch,  baseball  gloves,  etc.  The  Asso- 
ciation provides  baseball  apparatus,  and  something  to 


PHYSICAL  DEPARTMENT  119 

It  is   strange   that   we    do   not   realize   the   duty   of   being   charming   as 
well  as  virtuous. — Rollins. 

drink,  if  desired.  On  arrival  at  destination,  choose 
as  many  teams  as  will  divide  the  party  into  teams  of 
nine  each.  Estimate  the  time  at  your  disposal  and 
proceed  to  compete  in  baseball,  dash,  a  jumping  event, 
etc.  In  baseball,  arrange  so  that  every  team  meets 
every  other,  even  though  the  games  be  very  short. 
Score  on  a  basis  of  fifteen  points  for  the  baseball  team 
securing  most  games ;  ten  points  for  the  second  and 
five  for  the  third.  In  athletic  events  score  five,  three 
and  one.  Have  a  cheap  but  neat  wooden  shield 
lettered  as  follows,  and  hang  in  the  boys'  rooms : 

APRIL  OUTING 

1910 

WINNING  ATHLETIC  TEAM 

Capt.  

(Names  of  team  to   follow.) 

Plan  to  arrive  home  for  swim  or  shower  bath  the 
latter  part  of  the  afternoon. 


162.     COCOA  SPREE 

Saturday  evening  during  the  gymnasium  class  a 
committee  is  named  by  the  director  in  charge  to  look 
out  for  the  "spree."  All  who  are  going  to  stay  for  it 
are  asked  to  hold  up  their  hands.  The  committee 
notifies  one  of  the  secretaries,  who  buys  the  required 
articles  and  has  the  cocoa  made.  The  class  leaves  the 
floor  at  9.30  or  even  9.15,  the  members  of  the  com- 
mittee hurry  through  the  bath,  get  tables  and  cups  and 
saucers  ready,  and  serve  the  cocoa.  Usually  about 
thirty  or  thirty-five  stay.  Cocoa  and  saltines  are 
served  (invariably),  all  one  can  drink  and  eat,  and  each 
man  chips  in  five  cents.  This  more  than  covers 
expenses. 

Afiter  things  get  well  started  the  first  item  of  busi- 
ness is  the  election  of  a  master  of  the  feast,  called  the 


120  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

That  life  is  long  which  answers  life's  great  end. — Young. 

"Exalted  Chief  S wilier."  He  must  be  one  who  has  not 
held  the  office  on  any  previous  night.  Business  relat- 
ing to  the  evening  class  is  first  disposed  of  and  arrange- 
ments are  made  for  a  Halloween  frolic,  masquerade, 
outing,  ladies'  night,  visit  to  nearby  Association  (tak- 
ing gymnasium  suits  and  going  on  the  floor  with  the 
class  there),  followed  by  discussion  of  plan  to  provide 
additional  apparatus  for  the  gymnasium  by  contribu- 
tions, etc.  Over  all  this  the  Chief  Swiller  presides. 
Then  come  songs  of  the  Association,  stories  and  prac- 
ticing of  yells.  The  use  of  one  long  table  helps  in  the 
"getting  together."  The  fellows  look  forward  to  these 
weekly  events. — W .  W.  Saunders,  Schenectady,  N.  Y. 

163.     CHICAGO  PHYSICAL  DEPARTMENT 

Under  the  physical  section  we  have  social  stunts  in 
track  athletics,  basket  ball,  etc.  Once  or  twice  a  year 
we  have  a  track  meet  of  all  the  departments  of  the 
city.  After  this  meet  a  dinner  is  served.  The  leaders' 
corps  has  a  monthly  dinner  which  always  proves 
successful  in  getting  the  men  to  cooperate  in  the 
work  with  their  different  classes.  The  basket  ball 
teams  are  having  a  series  of  games  for  the  champion- 
ship, and  will  have  a  social  affair  after  the  final  game. 
One  night  a  month  is  given  up  to  the  ladies,  at  which 
time  stunts  peculiar  to  the  gymnasium  are  given. 
During  the  year  two  socials  are  given  on  the  gym- 
nasium floor  for  the  men  only.  At  these  socials  stunts 
are  performed,  speeches  are  made,  and  a  musical  pro- 
gram of  some  sort  is  rendered. — George  D.  Bcckwith. 

164.     ATHLETIC  SUPPER 

This  was  a  regular  table  d'hote  supper,  the  novelty 
of  which  consisted  in  making  the  men  do  some  athletic 
stunt  in  order  to  secure  each  course.  The  men  went 
around  the  gymnasium  to  different  pieces  of  apparatus 
to  do  their  stunts.     After  each  performance,  the  ath- 


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122  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

One  man  is  as  good  as  another — and  a  great  dale  betther. — Thackeray. 

lete  secured  his  plate  and  took  it  to  a  nearby  table. 
The  object  of  the  supper  was  to  bring  the  men  into 
closer  relation  to  each  other  and  to  the  Association  as 
a  whole. — Dr.  Lyman  G.  Haskell,  Jacksonville,  Fla. 

165.     FAKE  TRACK  MEET 

Honolulu  tried  a  take-off  on  an  intercollegiate  track 
meet,  which  made  a  hit.  Instead  of  a  standing  broad 
jump,  it  was  the  "standing  broad  smile."  The  hammer 
for  the  hammer  throw  consisted  of  a  paper  sack,  with 
a  football  bladder.  The  men  in  the  mile  walk  were 
hobbled  so  as  to  be  able  to  step  but  a  few  inches,  while 
the  220-yard  dash  consisted  in  adding  up  a  column  of 
figures,  the  sum  of  which  proved  to  be  220. 

166.     VOLLEY  BALL 

Marietta,  Ohio,  has  a  volley  ball  league  of  business 
and  professional  men.  At  the  close  of  the  season  a 
banquet  is  held  in  honor  of  the  winning  team,  when 
all  are  invited.  The  program  consists  of  toasts, 
music,  inter-Association  volley  ball  contests,  etc.,  with 
the  social  element  predominating. — /.  R.  Brubaker. 

167.     FIRE  DEPARTMENT  ATHLETICS 

Over  600  men  of  Wilmington,  Del.,  representing 
twelve  fire  companies,  headed  by  their  chief  and  assist- 
ants, with  five  brass  bands  and  drum  corps,  were  the 
guests  at  a  reception  in  the  new  building  and  partici- 
pated in  an  athletic  program. 

168.     BOWLING  CLUB 

A  bowling  club  with  sixty  members  has  been  organ- 
ized at  Wilkesbarre,  Pa.,  and  uses  the  alleys  every 
Thursday.  Each  member  pays  $1  for  ten  games  and 
the  club  supper  at  the  close  of  the  series. 


EDUCATIONAL  DEPARTMENT  123 

Give  every  man  thine  ear  but  few  thy  voice. — Shakespeare. 

169.     LEADERS'  CORPS 

Monthly  suppers  at  twenty-five  cents  a  plate,  ending 
with  a  talk  by  the  physical  director,  have  proved  help- 
iul—West  Side,  N.  Y. 

Educational 

170.     OBSERVATION   PARTIES   AND  EDUCA- 
TIONAL TOURS 

Observation  parties  and  educational  tours  should  not 
be  confused  with  outings.  Their  object  is  to  develop 
the  observation  habit  in  boys  and  to  educate  them 
through  the  eye  and  ear.  This  may  be  accomplished 
through  a  strong  committee,  one  that  will  keep  before 
boys  on  a  tour  their  opportunities  for  learning,  rather 
than  for  mere  fun  and  frolic.  The  term  observation 
party  has  been  used  when  visiting  a  local  factory  or 
institution,  and  educational  tour  when  spending  one  or 
more  days  on  a  longer  trip,  visiting  a  score  or  more  of 
places. 

At  first  these  privileges  were  planned  for  by  the 
outing  or  social  committees,  but  in  recent  years  this 
work  has  been  assigned  to  the  educational  work  com- 
mittees, which  have  done  faithful  work  in  many  of 
our  Associations  by  arranging  for  tours  of  inspection 
and  observation. 

New  Jersey  boys  have  made  educational  tours  for 
several  years.  They  have  gone  to  Washington,  Phila- 
delphia, Old  Point  Comfort,  Hampton,  Alexandria,  Mt. 
Vernon,  New  York,  Boston,  Portland,  the  White 
Mountains,  Lake  Champlain,  Lake  George,  and  many 
other  places  of  historic  and  modern  interest.  The 
tours  have  attracted  the  attention  of  all  classes  of  boys. 
Superintendents  and  principals  of  schools  have  encour- 
aged the  boys  to  go  and  later  boys  read  essays  about 
their  trips  to  their  classmates. 

While  the  trips  have  been  instructive  and  the  educa- 


124  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Some  books  are  to  be  tasted,  others  to  be  swallowed,  and  some  few 
to  be  chewed  and  digested. — Bacon. 

tional  idea  has  been  kept  uppermost,  the  boys  have  had 
great  fun.  In  a  crowd  boys  manufacture  entertain- 
ment just  as  naturally  as  they  watch  out  for  meal-time, 
so  it  is  seldom  a  serious  matter  to  provide  amusement 
on  the  trips.  They  are  quite  too  busy  in  ''seeing 
things"  to  be  overcome  with  ennui.  The  trips  have 
been  the  main  subject  of  excited  conversation  for  days 
at  a  time  and  each  one  of  them  has  gone  down  in  each 
boy's  life  with  special  memories.  In  fact,  the  trouble 
is  not  so  much  in  keeping  the  boys  interested  as  in  pre- 
venting them  from  becoming  so  interested  that  they 
allow  their  enthusiasm  to  get  away  with  them;  but 
even  that  is  not  to  be  condemned  provided  it  does  not 
carry  them  too  far.  The  boys,  however,  have  always 
seen  that  and  have  "caught  on"  to  the  idea  of  always 
being  gentlemen.     That  solves  most  of  the  problems. 

A  definite  policy  has  been  followed  which  is  given 
here  briefly  as  suggestive  for  the  organization  of  simi- 
lar trips  elsewhere. 

The  policy  for  the  year,  the  number  of  places  to  be 
visited,  and  the  number  of  parties  to  be  conducted 
should  be  settled  early,  so  the  boys  and  their  parents 
may  know  exactly  what  to  expect.  The  boys  can  then 
choose  the  trip  in  which  they  are  particularly  interested 
and  so  get  ready  for  it,  if  they  wish,  by  reading  on  the 
subject  or  in  any  other  way.  As  far  as  those  who  have 
the  tours  in  charge  are  concerned,  system  solves  many 
difficulties. 

-  The  places  which  may  be  visited  are  almost  inex- 
haustible. There  are  manufacturing  plants  and  large 
stores  with  their  complicated  systems  of  handling  their 
huge  amount  of  business  or  their  actual  production  of 
goods.  There  are  the  government  offices  from  the  city 
hall,  the  police  stations  and  fire  departments,  to  the 
court  house  and  officials,  and  the  state  capitol.  Then 
there  are  museums,  neighboring  colleges  and  universi- 
ties, newspaper  offices  and  plants,  telephone  exchanges, 
parks,  and  so  on  indefinitely. 


EDUCATIONAL  DEPARTMENT  125 

In  these  days  half  of  our  diseases  come  from  neglect  of  the  body  in 
overwork  of  the   brain. — Locke. 

Permission  to  visit  factories  or  other  establishments 
should  be  secured  at  least  one  month  in  advance,  and  it 
is  important  to  again  notify  the  firm  to  be  visited  about 
twenty-four  hours  before  the  visit,  so  that  there  may 
be  no  misunderstanding  or  embarrassment  to  either 
party.  Some  firms  will  not  grant  permission  because 
they  think  the  boys  are  young  and  will  interfere  with 
the  employees.  As  a  precaution  it  is  necessary  in 
every  interview  or  letter  to  state  clearly  the  object  of 
the  visit,  give  some  idea  of  the  number  in  the  party 
and  just  how  it  is  to  be  conducted.  The  boys  should 
be  warned  before  every  trip  not  to  ask  questions  of 
employees  or  in  any  way  hinder  their  work;  all  infor- 
mation desired  should  be  asked  of  the  guide.  The 
boys  should  not  touch  any  machinery  or  articles  manu- 
factured unless  told  to  do  so.  They  should  act  as 
gentlemen,  for  their  example  will  largely  determine 
whether  another  party  may  have  similar  privileges. 

Usually  not  over  fifteen  boys  should  constitute  a 
touring  party,  so  that  every  member  can  see  and  hear 
what  the  guide  has  to  explain.  In  case  a  larger 
number  is  taken,  divide  into  two  or  more  groups, 
arrange  for  a  leader  for  each  group  and  endeavor  to 
have  more  than  one  guide. 

It  is  a  good  plan  to  arrange  for  compositions  or 
essays  on  every  visit.  These  can  be  read  at  a  mem- 
bers' meeting,  and  besides  being  instructive  will  help 
show  how  profitably  hours  can  be  spent  in  this  way. 
Each  composition  should  be  written  on  the  samp  size 
paper  and  later  bound  in  a  loose-leaf  binder.  This  will 
serve  as  a  record  for  the  committee  of  every  party  or 
tour.  Several  years'  experience  has  shown  that  it  is 
difficult  to  secure  a  composition  from  every  member  of 
a  party.  The  best  results  have  come  when  two  boys 
have  been  appointed  to  do  this  work  and  then  encour- 
aged to  have  it  finished  at  an  early  date.  A  copy  of 
the  best  one  should  be  sent  with  the  letter  of  thanks  to 
the  person  in  charge  of  the  place  visited.     This  will 


126  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Education  is  not  putting  up  a  lattice  for  frail  things  to  lean  upon,  but 
developing  the  inward  strength  that  makes  lovely  things  shoot  up  of 
themselves. — Rollins. 

reveal  in  a  practical  way  what  the  Association  is  doing, 
possibly  attract  interest  and  prepare  the  way  for  a 
later  visit  by  another  party. 

Previous  to  the  trip  to  Old  Point  Comfort  in  April 
last  year  the  announcement  of  the  essay  competition 
with  its  rules  was  published.  It  produced  good  results. 
It  is  given  here. 

Essay  Competition 

The  boys  of  the  party  are  invited  to  participate  in  a 
friendly  competition  by  writing  a  descriptive  essay  of 
the  tour.  A  committee  of  three  has  been  appointed, 
who  will  examine  all  papers.  The  boy  writing  the  best 
will  be  presented  with  an  autographed  photograph  of 
•President  Roosevelt,  neatly  framed,  with  the  letter 
accompanying  the  picture. 

The  terms  and  conditions  of  the  contest  are : 

(1)  Open  to  boys  between  the  ages  of  fourteen  and 
nineteen  years,  inclusive.  (2)  Must  be  written  by 
hand  in  black  ink,  on  paper  eight  by  eleven  inches, 
leaving  a  margin  of  one  inch  at  left.  Use  only  one 
side  of  paper.  (3)  Not  less  than  eight  hundred  or 
more  than  twelve  hundred  words.  (4)  To  be  written 
as  if  it  were  to  be  published  in  a  magazine.  (5)  Spell- 
ing, punctuation  and  neatness  will  be  considered.  (6) 
Include  statement  of  each  place  visited.  (7)  Draw 
simple  outline  map  of  the  route  and  mark  places  visited 
(see  map  on  announcement).  (8)  Each  essay  must 
have  mark  or  nom-de-plume  on  same.  Also  in  a 
sealed  envelope  your  name  and  address,  with  your  mark 
or  nom-de-plume  on  the  outside.  (9)  Essay  must  be 
in  hands  of  the  committee  not  later  than  May  1. 
(10)  The  committee  reserves  the  right  not  to  award 
the  picture  unless  the  majority  of  the  boys  take  part 
in  the  competition. 

Study  the  history  of  Virginia  and  Washington  so  as 
to  better  enjoy  the  tour  and  be  prepared  to  take  part  in 
the  competition.     Good  books  may  be  secured   from 


EDUCATIONAL  DEPARTMENT  127 

One  ought,  every  day  at  least,  to  hear  a  little  song,  read  a  good 
poem,  see  a  fine  picture,  and  if  it  were  possible,  speak  a  few  reason- 
able words. — Goethe. 

your  public  and  school  libraries.     The  following  may 
be  suggestive: 

Century  Book  for  Young  Americans,  Eldridge 
Brooks. 

Among  the  Law  Makers,  Edmund  Alton. 

History  of  Virginia,  R.  B.  Smithey. 

Virginia,  A  History  of  the  People,  John  E.  Cooke. 

Washington,  the  Capital  City,  Rufus  R.  Wilson. 

The  Standard  Guide  of  Washington,  Charles  B. 
Reynolds. 

Pictorial  Guide  to  Washington,  published  by  Rand, 
McNally  &  Co. 

— Charles  R.  Scott,  State  Secretary  Boys'  Work  for 
New  Jersey,  in  Association  Boys,  Vol.  VI.,  No.  I. 

171.     SPELLING  MATCHES 

ALSO    RHYMING    AND    PRONOUNCING 

Many  of  our  Associations  may  like  to  hold  old- 
fashioned  spelling  matches,  but  these  diversions  are 
so  very  old-fashioned  that  there  may  be  a  few  Associa- 
tions that  do  not  understand  how  to  conduct  such  a 
match.  A  good  speller  should  be  chosen  to  give  out 
the  words,  for  the  reason  that  only  a  good  speller  will 
understand  what  words  present  the  greatest  and  what 
the  least  difficulty.  He  should,  of  course,  be  one 
familiar  with  the  dictionary,  and  he  should  provide 
himself  beforehand  with  a  list  of  especially  puzzling 
words,  to  be  used  when  he  wishes  to  seal  the  fate  of 
long-standing  contestants. 

He  calls  the  meeting  to  order,  appoints  two  leaders, 
and  these,  standing  up,  take  turns  in  calling  to  their 
sides,  first  one  and  then  another,  until  all  who  desire 
to  spell  have  been  called  out.  If  you  try  to  carry  on 
two  spelling  matches  at  once  the  audience  will  be  con- 
fused. If  more  wish  to  spell  than  can  be  accom- 
modated at  one  game,  they  should  be  divided  into  two 
parts,  one  spelling  first,  the  other  division  second,  and 


128  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Reading  maketh  a  full  man,  conference  a  ready  man,  and  writing  an 
exact   man. — Bacon. 

the  victorious  in  each  contest  spelling  against  each 
other. 

The  sides  being  ranged  opposite  each  other,  the 
leader  gives  out  words,  alternating  between  them. 
When  one  player  misses  the  correct  spelling  he  sits 
down,  the  player  opposite  him  is  given  an  opportunity 
to  try  the  same  word,  and  so  the  game  proceeds  until 
only  one  is  left  standing. 

Pronouncing  matches  are  carried  on  in  the  same 
way,  except  that  the  leader  spells  the  words,  while 
the  players  pronounce  them.  Rhyming  matches  are 
carried  on  after  the  following  fashion :  the  leader,  who 
should  be  familiar  with  the  nature  of  verse  and  apt 
at  impromptu  suggestions,  invents  and  rattles  off  a 
line  of  verse.  Within  a  certain  length  of  time  the 
first  player  must  complete  a  couplet  with  a  line  of 
similar  length,  rhyming  with  the  leader's.  If  he  fails, 
the  opposite  side  is  given  an  opportunity;  and  so  it 
goes,  like  a  spelling  match. — From  "Social  to  Save," 
United  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor. 

172.     PROBLEMS  IN  MATHEMATICS 

(1) 

Write  the  figures  up  to  9  upon  a  blackboard,  1,  2,  3, 
4,  5,  6,  7,  9,  omitting  the  figure  8.  Select  any  figure 
desired,  such  as  3 ;  multiply  it  by  9.  Take  this  answer 
(27)  and  multiply  the  above  figures  by  it,  and  your 
answer  will  be  all  in  3's.  This  can  be  Avorked  on  any 
other  number. 

(2) 

Place  on  the  board  a  row  of  five  or  six  figures,  such 
as  3,  5,  8,  9,  6,  7.  Add  these  figures  together  and  the 
answer  will  be  38 ;  substract  this  number  from  the 
total  amount,  which  leaves  3  5  8  9  2  9.  Have  some 
one  cross  out  any  one  of  these  numbers  and  read  off 
the  balance,  which  will  be  35929.     Add  these  figures 


EDUCATIONAL  DEPARTMENT  129 

Every  one  is  as  God  made  him,  and  sometimes  a  great  deal  worse.— 
Cervantes. 

together,  which  will  make  a  total  of  28.  Take  the 
next  multiple  of  9  above  28,  which  would  be  36,  and 
the  difference  between  36  and  28  would  give  you  the 
number  crossed  off,  which  was  8.  This  can  be  worked 
with  any  multiple  of  9. 

(3) 
Have  a  board  or  piece  of  paper,  large  enough  for 
all  to  see.  Have  any  one  come  forward  and  put  down 
a  row  of  three  or  four  figures,  such  as  6  7  8  9.  Have, 
in  the  audience,  one  or  two  helpers.  Ask  for  some  one 
else  to  come  and  put  down  a  row  of  figures,  and  be 
sure  to  select  one  of  your  helpers,  who  has  been  pre- 
viously instructed  to  place  a  row  of  figures  underneath 
so  that  when  they  are  added  they  will  make  9's — as 
6  7  8  9  and  your  helper's  figures  3  2  10.  Ask  some  one 
else  to  come  forward  and  put  down  a  third  row  of 
figures.  Then  have  your  second  helper  put  down  the 
fourth  row  of  figures.  He  will  also  put  down  a  row 
so  as  to  make  9's  out  of  the  third  and  fourth  rows. 
Now  add  the  total  figures  together  and  it  will  amount 
to  19998.  Before  starting  the  game  write  this  number 
on  a  slip  of  paper  and  give  it  to  some  one  in  the 
audience  to  hold.  Tell  them  that  the  answer  which  is 
on  the  slip  of  paper  will  be  the  same  as  the  one  upon 
the  board  when  the  trick  is  concluded.  Have  some  one 
come  up  and  add  the  figures.  Then  call  for  the  person 
who  has  the  number  on  the  paper  previously  given  out 
to  compare  it  with  the  answer  on  the  board.  The  same 
can  be  worked  with  two,  three,  four,  or  five  figures. 
It  is  on  a  series  of  nine. 

173.     CIVIC  DEBATE 

A    SOCIAL    SERVICE    EVENT 

The  best  thing  we  did  last  year  in  the  way  of  a  public 
social  function,  especially  one  that  attracted  a  large 
audience,  was  a  debate.     It  was  arranged  and  carried 


130 


SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 


You  are  not  necessarily  educated  because  you  have  been  to  college. 
Each  soul  needs  a  different  education.  Many  a  man  has  been  educated 
by  his  folly. — Rollins. 

out  by  the  Association.  The  participants  were  three 
of  the  leading  lawyers  on  one  side  against  three  of 
the  leading  ministers  on  the  other  side.  They  debated 
the  question,  "Resolved:  That  higher  standards  of 
civic  righteousness  prevail  now  than  a  quarter  of  a 
century  ago." 


Id 
Z 
0 

h 

1 

0 

< 

FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH 

AUSPICES  Y    M.  C.  A. 

Thursday,  Feb.  4,  8  P.  M. 

Jff 

M 

DEBATE 

JS 

jst 

"Higher  Standards  of  Civic    Righteousness   Prevail   in 

American  Citizenship  than  a  Quarter 

of  a  Century  Ago," 

AFFIRMATIVE                                          NEGATIVE 
Or.  Scott  F.  nershey                     J.  Norman  Martin,  Esq. 

Dr.  Elmer  E    Higley                     Charles  H.  Akens,  Esq. 

Or.  H.  J.  Whalen                   Robert  K.  Aiken,  Esq. 

1    \    Q^       Admission    25   Cents 

We  held  the  debate  in  a  downtown  church  for  want 
of  a  better  place,  charged  twenty-five  cents  admission, 
gave  the  people  one  of  the  best  entertainments  the 
town  has  ever  had,  and  received  $244.75  in  admissions. 
The  attendance  was  more  than  a  thousand  people.  The 
debate  started  newspaper  comment  and  caused  the 
public  mind  generally  to  do  some  new  thinking  along 
civic  lines. — B.  A.  Hoover,  Newcastle,  Pa. 


174.     EDUCATIONAL  RECEPTION 

In  the  educational  department  the  classes  have  an 
opening  reception  to  the  entire  student  body.  Open 
receptions  are  given  to  the  different  groups;  dinners 
and  banquets  are  given  at  the  close  of  the  term.  Com- 
mencement banquets  are  also  given.  A  very  promi- 
nent club  called  the  Senate  Club  gives  a  banquet  for 
its  members  quarterly,  and  often  has  social  nights  to 
which  ladies  are  invited.     The  school  faculty,  educa- 


BIBLE  STUDY  131 

Social  intercourse  is  the  touchstone  that  will  try  your  gold,  and 
without  it  your  religion  is  likely  to  be  just  fool's  gold,  and  you  never 
know  it. — Amos   R.   Wells. 

tional  committees  and  the  students  often  unite  in  giv- 
ing receptions  and  dinners. — George  D.  Bcckivith, 
Chicago  Central  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

175.     EDUCATIONAL  SOCIAL 

One  fairly  successful  educational  social  was  ar- 
ranged by  a  committee  made  up  of  the  representatives 
of  various  classes.  Each  class  was  made  responsible 
for  some  stunt  as  a  number  of  the  program,  and  all 
joined  in  serving  refreshments.  A  Virginia  reel  in 
costume  put  on  by  a  class  of  mechanics  and  clerks  was 
most  effective. — B.  C.  Pond,  Patcrson,  N,  J. 

176.     EDUCATIONAL  EXHIBIT 

Through  the  energetic  social  committee  exhibitions 
are  being  held  in  the  building,  showing  examples  of 
amateur  photography,  mechanical  and  architectural 
drawing,  relics  and  curios.  These  are  proving  a  great 
attraction  to  many  outsiders  and  are  bringing  new 
people  to  the  building  every  day. — Coatesville,  Pa. 


Bible  Study 

177.     HUSTLING  CLUB 

Since  1887  there  has  been  conducted  by  the  Nash- 
ville Association  for  fifty-two  Sundays  in  the  year, 
with  the  exception  of  two  or  three  summers,  a  Sunday 
afternoon  boys'  meeting.  During  this  period  the 
meeting  has  been  up  and  down,  but  it  has  gone  steadily 
on,  and  today  is  reaping  the  harvest. 

During  the  first  few  years  boys  of  any  age  were 
admitted.  The  attendance  frequently  went  up  to  150 
or  200.  Later  on  a  minimum  age  limit  of  ten  years 
was  enforced,  and  still  later  this  was  raised  to  twelve 


132  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Religion  is  the  basis  of  civil  society,  and  the  source  of  all  good  and 
of  all  comfort. — Burke. 

years.  In  March,  1900,  a  radical  departure  was  made, 
and  the  meeting  divided  into  two  sections,  one  for  boys 
from  twelve  to  fourteen  years  of  age,  the  other  for 
boys  of  fourteen  and  over. 

The  reasons  for  the  change  were  several.  It  was 
true  that,  although  the  meeting  had  been  going  on  year 
after  year,  conducted  in  a  live,  practical  manner,  there 
was  a  dearth  of  older  boys  in  the  meeting.  During  the 
last  year  of  the  "mixed"  meeting  a  special  effort  was 
made  to  retain  the  older  boys,  and  influences  of  every 
possible  kind  were  brought  to  bear.  But  they  con- 
tinued to  disappear  with  a  regularity  which  was  very 
discouraging.  Most  of  the  boys,  when  interviewed, 
would  give  some  flimsy  excuse  for  their  absence,  but 
some  were  frank  enough  to  say  that  there  were  too 
many  small  boys  for  them.  All  seemed  to  be  pleased 
with  the  meeting,  with  the  exception  of  the  presence 
of  the  smaller  boys. 

It  seemed  nothing  short  of  a  crime  to  have  a  boy  in 
the  meeting  for  three  or  four  years,  and  then  to  have 
him  disappear  just  at  the  time  he  needed  the  meeting 
most  and  could  be  of  the  most  service  to  the  meeting. 
The  meeting  for  boys  fourteen  years  old  and  over  was 
a  success  from  the  very  start.  The  response  of  the 
older  boys  to  the  opportunity  given  them  in  this  ser- 
vice has  always  been  satisfactory  and  encouraging. 
There  has  been  a  constant  and  continued  growth  in 
numbers  and  results.  Different  plans  for  keeping  up 
interest,  directing  energies,  encouraging  Christian 
service  and  securing  definite  results  have  been  used. 
A  pleasing  feature  of  the  plans  is  that  each  succeeding 
one  has  seemed  to  evolve  from  the  one  preceding  it. 

From  the  very  beginning  the  emphasis  has  been  laid 
on  "work  for  the  other  fellow,"  and  as  rapidly  as  boys 
were  developed  responsibility  was  laid  upon  them,  until 
now  the  entire  management  is  in  the  hands  of  a  com- 
mittee of  eight  boys,  selected  by  the  boys  in  the  meet- 
ing.    The  boys'  work  director  enjoys  a  chair  in  the 


BIBLE  STUDY  133 

The  finest  type  of  the  coming  man  will  be  a  Christian  gentleman. — - 
O.  S.   Marden. 

audience  with  the  boys.  Perhaps  if  this  policy  had 
been  adopted  the  first  month  of  the  meeting  it  would 
have  lived  but  a  short  time,  although  it  is  true  that  one 
of  the  boys  who  read  a  paper  at  a  boys'  conference 
said  they  always  had  a  better  meeting  when  the  boys' 
work  director  was  away  on  a  trip. 

For  two  years  no  record  was  kept  of  the  meeting 
except  the  number  present.  During  the  past  two  years, 
by  a  simple  card  index  system,  most  interesting  data 
have  been  secured,  including  the  number  of  different 
boys  attending  and  their  respective  ages,  total  attend- 
ance of  different  ages,  average  age,  number  of  meet- 
ings each  boy  attends,  percentage  of  members  present, 
percentage  present  on  time.  It  is  interesting  to  note 
that  the  average  age  for  the  year  just  closed  was  15.9 
against  15.6  for  the  preceding  year.  The  question  how 
to  keep  the  meeting  from  becoming  a  young  men's 
meeting  instead  of  an  older  boys'  meeting  is  coming 
along  in  about  another  year. 

The  name  "Hustling  Club"  was  adopted  two  years 
ago.  The  plan  of  work  at  present  is  that  of  dividing 
the  boys  into  small  groups  representing  certain  locali- 
ties or  sections  of  the  city,  under  a  "leader,"  and  hold- 
ing groups  responsible  for  the  attendance  of  boys  in 
their  respective  territories.  A  record  of  group  attend- 
ance is  kept  and  posted,  so  as  to  encourage  group  pride. 
It  is  planned  for  each  group  to  meet  once  a  fortnight 
at  the  home  of  some  member  of  the  group.  These 
meetings  are  opened  with  devotional  exercises,  busi- 
ness matters  are  discussed,  Bible  study  held,  and  then 
a  good  time  socially.  Experimentally,  groups  were 
organized  with  an  older  boy  or  an  adult  as  leader,  and 
the  results  have  proven  very  conclusively  that  the  right 
person  as  leader,  be  he  boy  or  man,  will  make  the  thing 
go.  Some  groups  have  failed  utterly  and  ignomini- 
ously,  with  both  boy  and  adult  leaders.  Others,  with 
boy  or  adult  leaders,  have  succeeded  signally  and  en- 
thusiastically.    The  plan  is  all  right ;  the  poor  leaders 


^%.    'IP    , 


i\  -  s*- 


iir    1 


BIBLE  STUDY  135 

The  important  thing  is  not  so  much  to  do  the  right  thing,  as  to  like 
doing  the  right  thing. — Rollins. 

will  be  "fired"  and  the  process  kept  up,  until  a  full 
corps  of  efficient  fellows  is  found. 

From  the  beginning  the  meetings  have  been  ad- 
dressed by  the  very  strongest  speakers  that  could  be 
secured.  This  fact,  together  with  the  wide-awake, 
healthy  tone  of  the  meeting,  has  been  a  very  important 
factor  in  whatever  success  may  have  been  attained.' — 
A.  Allan  Jameson,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  Association 
Boys,  Vol  III.,  No.  4. 

178.  ORIENTAL  RESEARCH  CLUB 

A  group  of  young  men  or  older  boys,  having  some 
taste  for  study  and  writing  and  with  no  aversion  to 
the  Bible  as  a  text  book,  may  find  much  pleasure  as 
well  as  profit  in  a  club  having  as  its  purpose  the  his- 
torical, biographical  and  geographical  study  of  the 
Bible  and  Bible  lands.  Of  course  the  word  "research" 
is  not  used  in  its  broader  meaning.  A  club  should 
number  from  five  to  fifteen,  and  the  leader  be  one 
competent  to  direct  and  stimulate  the  members  in 
their  work.  The  meetings  may  be  either  weekly  or 
fortnightly,  as  desired.  The  leader  and  the  class  may 
cooperate  in  mapping  out  the  course  and  deciding  on 
methods,  and  each  member  should  feel  obligated  to 
do  the  work  given  him  and  do  it  well.  All  should  take 
part ;  there  may  be  various  questions  and  other  matters 
to  look  up  and  report  upon,  but  ordinarily  some  his- 
torical, biographical  or  geographical  subject  will  be 
given  out,  the  same  to  be  read  up  and  written  upon ; 
the  paper  will  be  presented  at  a  club  meeting,  and 
afterwards  some  time  be  given  for  discussion,  ques- 
tions and  criticism.  It  may  be  well  to  give  out  sub- 
jects to  sections  of  the  club  alternately,  in  this  way 
giving  the  members  longer  time  for  preparation,  and 
having  fewer  papers  presented  on  a  given  evening. 
The  following  suggestions  are  given  as  to  subjects : 

Biographical:  Select  characters  from  both  the  Old 
Testament  and  the  New,  and  not  always  those  that  are 


136  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

A  wise  merchant  takes  stock  of  himself  as  well  as  of  his  goods. — The 
Saturday  Evening  Post. 

best  known.  The  reading  should  be  thorough  and 
careful;  the  writing  will  improve  with  practice.  Let 
the  paper  give  the  person's  parentage,  the  time  and 
place  of  his  birth,  conditions  under  which  he  grew  to 
manhood,  a  concise  sketch  of  his  career,  any  marked 
characteristics  of  mind  and  body,  closing  with  a  gen- 
eral appreciation  of  the  man's  life  and  character  and 
of  his  place  and  influence  in  his  nation  and  in  the 
world.  It  will  be  of  interest  if  prominent  contem- 
porary persons  and  events  in  general  history  are  also 
named. 

Geographical :  Such  topics  may  be  taken  as — the 
mountains  and  hills,  valleys  and  plains,  chief  cities, 
streams  and  lakes,  etc. ;  these  may  each  be  divided  into 
(1)  Palestine;  (2)  other  Bible  lands.  In  describing 
a  river,  for  instance,  give  its  sources,  its  course,  length, 
thS  width  and  depth  in  its  different  sections,  character 
of  its  current,  rapids  or  cataracts,  what  sections,  if 
any,  are  navigable,  character  of  its  banks,  the  country 
through  which  it  flows,  its  tributary  streams,  and  any 
interesting  historical  events  connected  with  it.  A 
twenty-minute  paper  might  easily  be  written  regard- 
ing the  Jordan  River  alone.  Sometimes  there  may  be 
gathered  from  sources  outside  of  the  Bible  various 
traditions  or  folk-lore  connected  with  a  subject,  and 
something  about  explorations  and  happenings  of  more 
recent  times. 

Historical  topics  may  deal  with  a  nation — its  rise, 
progress,  conquests,  decline  or  extinction ;  decisive 
battles  or  campaigns;  the  architecture  of  a  people,  and 
their  habits  and  occupations — the  archaeology  of  Bible 
times.  There  will  be  an  endless  variety  of  themes,  the 
investigating  and  writing  up  of  which  will  be  of  fas- 
cinating interest ;  and  a  few  seasons  of  such  work 
would  give  the  student  a  fund  of  biblical  information, 
and  besides  create  in  him  a  habit  of  careful  reading 
and  writing,  always  a  valuable  asset  to  one  who  wishes 
to  make  his  life  worth  while. — H.  S.  N. 


BIBLE  STUDY  137 

An   idler  is   a  watch  that  wants   both  hands; 
As  useless   if  it   goes  as  if   it  stands.— Cowper. 

179.     A  BIBLE  TEST 

Here  is  a  well-known  alphabet  of  Scripture  proper 
names  which  may  be  utilized  at  a  social  by  dividing  the 
members  into  two  sides  and  proceeding  as  m  a  spelling 
match  The  leader  reads  the  lines,  one  at  a  time. 
Failure  to  name  the  correct  Scripture  character  rules 
a  contestant  out. 

A  was  a  monarch  who  reigned  in  the  East;   (Esth.  i    1) 
B  was  a  Chaldee  who  made  a  great  feast ;  (Dan.  v.  \V 
C  was  veracious,  when  others  told  lies;   (Num.  xm.  30-33) 
D  was  a  woman  heroic  and  wise;  (Judg.  lv- 4"14)         .      1  7. 
E  was  a  refuge,  where  David  spared  Saul ;  (1  Sam   xxiv.  1-7) 
F  was  a  Roman,  accuser  of  Paul;   (Acts  xxvi.  24) 
G  was  a  garden,  a  favorite  resort;    (John  xvm.   1,  2,   Matt. 

xxvi.  36)  ••    11  \ 

H  was  a  city  where  David  held  court;  (2  Sam.  u.  11) 
I  was  a  mocker,  a  very  bad  boy;   (Gen.  xvi.  16) 
J  was  a  city,  preferred  as  a  joy;  (Ps.  cxxxyii.  6)      _ 
K  was  a  father,  whose  son  was  quite  tall ;   (1  bam.  ix    l,  £.) 
L  was  a  proud  one,  who  had  a  great  fall;   (Isa   xiv.  U) 
M  was  a  nephew,  whose  uncle  was  good;   (Col.  iv.  1U,  Acts 

N  was  a  city,  long  hid  where  it  stood;   (Zepru  ii.  13) 
O  was  a  servant,  acknowledged  a  brother;   (Phile.  1-26) 
P  was  a  Christian,  greeting  another;   (2  Tim    i.  1,  I) 
R  was  a  damsel,  who  knew  a  man's  voice ;   (Acts  xn.  W,  14) 
S  was  a  sovereign,  who  made  a  bad  choice ;  (1  Kings  xi.  4-11 ) 
T  was  a  seaport,  where  preaching  was  long;   (Acts  xx.  6,  /) 
U  was  a  teamster,  struck  dead  for  his  wrong;   (2  bam.  6,  /) 
V  was  a  cast-off,  and  never  restored;   (Esth.  l.  19) 
Z  was  a  ruin,  with  sorrow  deplored.     (Ps.  cxxxvn.  1) 

For  several  of  the  descriptions  more  than  one  person 
will  answer  and  if  a  good  reply  is  made  it  should  be 
accepted  whether  it  is  the  one  expected  or  not.— From 
"Social  to  Save,''  United  Society  of  Christian  En- 
deavor. 

180.     BIBLE  SALAD 

A  pleasant  and  profitable  feature  of  a  Bible  social 
will  be  a  "Bible  Salad."  Fill  a  dish  with  salad  leaves. 
These  consist  of  slips  of  paper  on  which  are  written 


138  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Knowledge  is  of  two  kinds.  We  know  a  subject  ourselves,  or  we 
know  where  we  can  find  information  upon  it. — Samuel  Johnson. 

verses  of  Scripture,  each  slip  being  numbered.  Seat 
the  members  in  a  circle.  Furnish  each  with  a  pencil 
and  slip  of  paper  and  ask  each  one  to  write  on  his  slip 
of  paper  the  numbers  from  one  up  to  the  highest 
number  in  the  salad  dish.  Pass  the  dish  and  ask  each 
to  help  himself  to  a  piece  of  salad.  Each  member  will 
read  the  verse,  and  write,  beside  the  corresponding 
number  on  his  slip  of  paper,  the  book  of  the  Bible  from 
which  he  thinks  that  verse  is  taken.  At  a  given  signal 
each  person  passes  his  slip  to  his  right-hand  neighbor, 
receiving  one  from  his  left-hand  neighbor,  which  he 
treats  in  the  same  way,  writing  beside  its  number  the 
book  from  which  he  believes  it  to  have  been  taken. 

After  all  the  pieces  of  salad  have  thus  been  exam- 
ined, the  leader  reads  the  correct  list,  the  members 
counting  their  mistakes.  The  one  who  has  the  fewest 
mistakes  is  victor  in  the  game. — From  "Social  to  Save," 
United  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor. 

181.     TO  ORGANIZE  BOYS'  BIBLE  CLASSES 

In  connection  with  the  announcements  of  the  Boys' 
Department  Bible  Class,  two  or  three  years  ago,  a 
picture  of  a  chicken  yard  with  ten  hens  was  posted  in 
the  boys'  department.  Around  each  hen  were  ten 
chickens.  Considerable  mystery  was  thrown  around 
this  chicken  yard,  but  it  was  afterward  announced  that 
there  was  to  be  a  chicken  feed,  and  the  boys  were 
asked  to  write  their  names  beside  one  of  the  chickens. 
The  groups  were  formed  by  process  of  natural  selec- 
tion, and  on  the  night  of  the  chicken  feed  one  hundred 
boys  gathered  in  the  supper  room,  each  with  a  leader, 
who  proved  to  be  the  leader  of  a  boys'  Bible  class. 
After  supper  some  college  football  men,  Association 
leaders,  and  one  or  two  others  gave  reasons  why  boys 
and  young  men  should  study  the  Bible,  and  most  of 
the  boys  present  enrolled  for  one  of  the  classes. — 
D.  L.  Rogers,  Lynn,  Mass. 


140  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

He  that  will  make  a  good  use  of  any  part  of  his  life  must  allow  a 
large  part  of  it  to  recreation. — Locke. 

182.     BICYCLE   BIBLE   CLASS 

"For  all  members  of  the  Saturday  afternoon  class 
who  ride  bicycles"  was  part  of  an  announcement  posted 
by  a  boys'  *  department  last  summer.  A  bicycle  ride 
was  taken  and  a  Bible  class  session  conducted  in  the 
woods.  Can  any  one  tell  why  a  boys'  Bible  class 
should  be  discontinued  during  the  summer  months? 
Do  the  boys  need  a  Bible  class  more  in  winter  than 
they  do  in  summer?  Are  the  forces  of  evil  which 
assail  a  boy  less  rampant  in  summer  than  in  winter? 
A  few  bicycle  Bible  classes  and  outing  Bible  classes 
were  conducted  last  summer.  May  their  tribe  increase. 
— E.  AT.  R.  in  Association  Boys,  Vol.  I.,  No.  2. 

183.     MORNING  BIBLE  CLASSES 

Meet  under  the  trees  in  the  park  or  in  the  woods 
early  in  the  morning.  A  class  in  one  department  met 
at  six  o'clock  a.m.,  on  top  of  the  highest  hill  in  the 
suburbs ;  it  was  taught  by  a  boy.  In  many  depart- 
ments small  group  Bible  classes  meeting  in  the  woods 
in  the  afternoon  would  be  successful,  taking  the  place 
of  the  regular  boys'  meeting.  There  is  an  attraction 
about  the  woods  to  all  boys  and  they  will  usually  be 
enthusiastic  over  almost  any  event  which  gives  them 
the  opportunity  of  being  among  the  trees.  They  will 
go  out  for  a  Bible  class  almost  as  eagerly  as  for  any 
other  attraction. 

184.     A  PAUL  SOCIAL 

A  young  men's  Bible  class,  which  was  studying 
Paul's  travels,  held  a  "Ladies'  Night"  on  Washing- 
ton's birthday,  and  much  fun  was  produced  when  it 
came  time  for  refreshments.  The  teacher  distributed 
hatchets  to  the  men  and  women,  those  of  the  former 
bearing  statements  that  Paul  had  certain  experiences, 
and  those  of  the  latter  giving  simply  the  names  of 
cities ;  thus — "Paul  was  stricken  with  blindness"  found 


BIBLE  STUDY  141 

We    live    in    deeds,    not   years;    in    thoughts,    not    breaths; 
In  feelings,   not  in  figures   on   a  dial. — Bailey. 

a  partner  in  "Damascus."  There  were  some  interest- 
ing situations  before  Paul's  life  was  straightened  out. 
and  some  of  the  men  were  kept  busy,  after  the  social, 
reviewing  the  lessons  they  had  not  known. — Gerald 
Karr  Smith,  Washington,  D.  C. 

185.     A  SCRIPTURE  AUTOGRAPH  SOCIAL 

Every  one  present  receives  a  small  blank  book  in 
which  he  is  to  get  the  other  members  of  the  company 
to  write  Scripture  quotations.  Each  must  sign  his 
name  to  the  quotation  he  gives.  After  the  books,  are 
well  filled,  call  for  quiet  and  bid  the  members  read  in 
turn  the  quotations  that  have  been  given  them,  calling 
for  the  names  of  the  books  of  the  Bible  from  which 
the  quotations  are  taken.  Let  the  secretary  keep 
account  and  announce,  after  all  are  through,  who  has 
been  the  first  to  name  correctly  the  largest  number  of 
books. — From  " Social  to  Save,"  United  Society  of 
Christian  Endeavor. 

186.  BIBLE   STUDY   SUPPER— 1 

We  have  been  successful,  in  the  Bible  study  work, 
in  getting  the  men  out  by  having  a  fellowship  supper 
of  baked  beans,  coffee,  cake  and  some  fruit,  at  a  nomi- 
nal charge  of  ten  cents,  which  hardly  paid  expenses. 
We  had  some  real  Boston  bean-pots,  with  covers,  made 
at  a  pottery  nearby.  The  beans  were  prepared  by  the 
usual  faithful  "guid  wife"  and  sent  to  a  bakery,  where 
they  were  baked  all  night  and  part  of  a  day  in  the 
bakery  oven.  After  this  delicious  supper  the  classes 
were  called  together. — H.  E.  Stacy,  Baltimore  R.  R. 
Y.  M.  C.  A. 

187.  BIBLE  STUDY  SUPPER— 2 

A  Friday  night  six  o'clock  supper  for  Bible  study 
boys  has  increased  the  average  weekly  attendance  in 


142 


SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 


Saying  it   quick   is  no   use:    the   Recording  Angel  is   probably   a  ste- 
nographer.— The  Saturday  Evening  Post. 

Washington  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty.  The 
supper  costs  twenty  cents  apiece,  of  which  amount  each 
boy  pays  one  half.  A  committee  of  ladies  serves. 
Sample  menu :  creamed  dried  beef,  French  fried 
potatoes,  rolls,  butter,  cocoa  and  pie.  Notices  for  the 
week  are  given  at  an  opportune  time  during  the  supper, 
also  reports  on  attendance  and  collections.  Very  often 
some  guest  gives  an  inspirational  talk. 


Bible  Class  Supper 

188.     HIGH  SCHOOL  BIBLE  CLASS  SOCIAL- 
LADIES'  NIGHT 


The  boys  in  four  high  school  Bible  classes  enter- 
tained their  girl  friends  in  the  boys'  rooms  of  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  The  program  included  the  regular  Bible 
sessions,  at  which  the  boys  had  the  best  lesson  on 
record.  This  was  followed  by  basket-ball  games  in 
the  gymnasium.     There  were  light  refreshments  and 


BIBLE  STUDY  143 

The    age    of    chivalry    has    gone;    the    age    of    humanity    has    come. — 
Charles   Eminer. 

music  and  a  social  good  time. — 0.  M.  Branson,  Rich- 
mond, Ind. 

189.     OUT-OF-DOOR  BIBLE  STUDY 

Some  of  our  most  successful  affairs  have  been 
Indian  dinners.  A  small  group  of  fellows  have  gone 
out  into  the  woods  for  a  primitive  outing.  The  meal, 
which  they  cooked  themselves,  was  followed  by  Bible 
study  around  the  campfire. — Sam  N.  Foster,  Lincoln, 
Neb. 

190.     "BIBLICAL  DRAMAS" 

For  the  religious  work  department,  published  by 
The  Pilgrim  Press,  Boston  and  Chicago.  These  are 
splendid,  but  not  light.  They  are  devotional  and 
educational. 


Egotism,  the  feeling  that  you  are  better  than  other  people,  either  on 
account  of  a  better  filled  purse,  or  because  of  a  better  filled  head,  or 
because  of  some  other  gift  of  fortune  or  industry,  will  destroy  any 
social. — Amos  R.  Wells. 

Why  do  some  socials  lack  interest?  It  is  because  they  lack  an 
adequate  purpose.  It  is  because  they  appeal  only  to  the  senses  and 
not  to  the  soul.  Our  socials  must  present  a  motive  to  which  the  card 
table  and  theater  and  ballroom  and  poolroom  cannot  attain,  they  must 
be  all  alive  with  the  purpose  to  save. — Amos  R.  Wells. 

"Gospel"  means  "good  news."  "Evangelism"  means  the  same  thing. 
Joy  is  at  the  foundation  of  religion.  It  is  easy  to  be  good  when  we  are 
merry.  Laughter  is  not  only  one  of  the  best  gymnastics  of  the  body; 
it  strengthens  and  invigorates  character.  The  reason  why  some  Chris- 
tians do  not  grow  in  grace  is  because  they  don't  have  fun  enough. 
More  hearty  joking  often  means  more  hearty  praying. — Amos  R.  Wells. 

Do  you  want  to  be  social?  Do  you  desire  the  charm  of  winsomeness, 
that  will  draw  men  and  women  to  you,  as  bees  to  the  sweetest  of 
flowers,  as  eyes  to  the  loveliest  sunrise?  The  secret  of  it  does  not  lie 
in  small  talk,  or  jokes,  or  animal  spirits.  You  do  not  need  beauty,  nor 
wit,  nor  learning.  A  dancing  master  cannot  give  it  to  you,  nor  a  pro- 
fessor of  etiquette.  The  secret  of  loveliness  is  the  love  of  Christ.  The 
secret  of  winsomeness  is  the  desire  to  win  souls  for  the  Master.  You 
cannot  be  social  until  you  are  social — to  save. — Amos  R.  Wells. 


SONGS  AND  YELLS* 

191.     THREE  WASHINGTON  SONGS 

Tune — "Harrigan." 

Y.  M.  C.  A. 

That's  the  place  to  meet  your  friend. 
Come  around  and  take  a  whack  at  bowling, 
Educate  yourself  and  get  some  schooling. 

Y.  M.  C.  A. 
That's  the  place  to  be, 
It's  a  name  that  a  shame 
Never  has  been  connected  with — 

Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Tune — "There  Never  Was  A  Girl  Like  You/' 

You  dear  old 

Y.  M.  C.  A. ! 

You  are  always  wearing 

On  our  time  and  our  money  too ; 

But  you  have 

Won  us 

And  we're  always  swearing 

That  there  never  was  a  place  like  you. 

Tune — "Lindy." 

Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Five  thousand  members  strong; 

Y.  M.  C.  A. 

We  all  belong. 

It's  the  place  for  the  young  man, 

It's  the  place  for  the  old  man. 

In  our  plan  there's  none  who  can  not 

Join  us  in  our  song. 

192.     "BOYS  OF  WASHINGTON" 

Tune — "Maryland,  My  Maryland." 

What  sounds  are  these  that  strike  the  ear? 
Hail,   the   Boys   of  Washington ! 
A  mighty  host  is  gathered  here. 
Hail,   the  Boys   of   Washington ! 

*  See  also  "Camp  Hymns  and  Songs,"  by  C.  C.   Robinson. 


146  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Bought  politeness  always  wears  the  price  tag. — The  Saturday  Evening 
Post. 

We  raise  our  voices  to  the  blue, 
We'll  ever  to  our  cause  be  true, 
And  ever  strive  the  right  to  do. 
We're  the  Boys  of  Washington. 

The  states  have  given  up  their  best 

To  the  Boys  of  Washington. 

We're  from  the  north,  south,  east  and  west — 

But  we're  the  Boys  of  Washington. 

And  so  we're  gathered  here  to-day 

In  love  for  this  Y.  M.  C.  A., 

And  if  we're  ever  far  away, 

We'll  still  be  Boys  of  Washington. 

Yells 

Rickety-rax-quoax-quoax, 

Rickety-rax-quoax, 

Who-ra,  Who-ra, 

Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Washington,  Washington,  Washington. 

S-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s 
Boom!    !    !    !    ! 

Ah 

Cuckoo, 


Cuckoo, 
Washington. 


(Slowly.)  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Washington,  Washington, 

(Faster.)  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Washington,  Washington, 

(Very  fast.)  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Washington,  Washington. 
(Cheer.) 

Locomotive  Yell.     Spell  Washington,  beginning  very  slowly, 
increasing  speed  and  ending  with  three  "Washingtons." 


193.     DIXIE  SONG 


USED  BY  WASHINGTON  BOYS  AT  SILVER  BAY 

From  the  Nation's  Capital  we  come — 

The  city  it's  called  Washington. 

Look  away,  look  away,  look  away,  look  away. 

It's   the   place   where   great   men   congregate, 

From  every  city,  town  and  state. 

Look  away,  look  away,  look  away,  look  away. 


SONGS  AND  YELLS  147 

Cheerfulness     is     health;      the     opposite,     melancholy,     is     disease. — 
Haliburton. 

Chorus 

Then  three  times  three  for  U.  S.  A., 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  Silver  Bay, 

Look  away,  look  away, 

Look  away  down  south  in  Dixie. 

Look  away,  look  away, 

Look  away  down  south  in  Dixie. 

(Repeat  chorus.) 


194.     GYM  SONG 


Tune — "Mister  Dooley." 

From  every  corner  of  this  town  we've  come  up  here  each  day. 
Perhaps  at  'leven,  three  or  five,  to  while  the  eve  away. 
We  got  what  we  were  looking  for  and  felt  sore  all  next  day, 
But  when  the  time  came  round  again  we  couldn't  stay  away. 

Chorus 

Oh,  we're  the  gym  boys,  oh,  we're  the  gym  boys : 
Oh,  we  are  the  boys  who  have  a  lot  of  fun. 

Stiff  exercises,  contests  for  prizes, 
In  G-Y-M-N-A-S-I-U-M. 


195.     ASSOCIATION   INSTITUTE   SONG 

Tune— "Dixie." 

"I  wish  I  had  an  education," 

Comes  the  cry  from  all  creation, 

Come  and  join,  come  and  join  the  Association  ranks. 

There's  work  to  do  and  we  can  do  it ; 

And  we  know  we'll  never  rue  it; 

Come  and  join,  come  and  join  the  Association  ranks. 

Chorus 

I'm  going  to  try  to  study, 

Hooray!  Hooray! 

I've  got  the   sand  to  take  the   stand 

To  give  spare  hours  to  study; 

Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Will  aid  me  in  my  study. 


148  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

He  who  sings  frightens  away  his  ills. — -Cervantes. 

Then  take  up  shorthand,  mathematics, 

Languages  or  hydrostatics ; 

Come  and  join,  come  and  join  the  Association  ranks. 

Let  aspiration  in  all  weather 

And  perspiration  go  together, 

Come  and  join,  come  and  join  the  Association  ranks. 

196.     NEW  JERSEY  STATE  SONG 

Tune — Princeton's  "The  Orange  and  the  Black." 

Dear    New   Jersey,   though   we    love   thee, 

And  we  hold  thy  honor  true, 

Other  men  must  sing  thy  praises, 

We  have  nobler  work  to  do. 

We  will  pledge  our  lives  to  serve  thee, 

In  the  cause  of  Christ,  the  King. 

As  we  name  that  name  triumphant, 

Hear  our  voices  gladly  ring. 

We  will  pledge  our  lives  to  serve  thee 

In  the  cause  of  Christ,  the  King. 

As  we  name  that  name  triumphant, 

Hear  our  voices  gladly  ring. 

While  today  we  stand  together 
And  sing  our  song  of  cheer, 
All  our  hearts  are  warm  and  tender 
With  our  loyal  comrades  near; 
But  tomorrow  in  life's  battle 
Ere  the  light  of  life  grows  dim, 
We  must  fight  with  all  our  manhood 
There  to  win — or  die  for  Him. 
We  will  pledge  our  lives  to  serve  thee 
In  the  cause  of  Christ,  the  King. 
As  we  name  that  name  triumphant, 
Hear  our  voices  gladly  ring. 

Show  us  where  our  lives  are  needed 
In  this  wondrous  world  of  Thine. 
If  at  home,  or  in  far  countries 
On  God's  great  firing  line. 
But  where'er  it  be,  our  Master, 
Give  us  hearts  sincere  and  brave, 
May  we  spend  our  manly  vigor 
In  the  quest  for  souls  to  save. 
But  where'er  it  be,  our  Master, 
Give  us  hearts  sincere  and  brave 
May  we  spend  our  manly  vigor 
In  the  quest  for  souls  to  save. 


SONGS  AND  YELLS  149 

Beware  of  false  profits. — The   Saturday   Evening  Post. 

Dear  New  Jersey,  if  we  leave  thee 

And  to  other  states  belong, 

May  we  still  sing  to  our  comrades 

Our  Christian  Service  Song: 

We  will  pledge  our  lives  to  serve  thee 

In  the  cause  of  Christ,  the  King, 

As  we  name  that  name  triumphant, 

Hear  our  voices  gladly  ring. 

We  will  pledge  our  lives  to  serve  thee 

In  the  cause  of  Christ,  the  King. 

As  we  name  that  name  triumphant, 

Hear  our  voices  gladly  ring. 

197.     WE'VE  BEEN  UP  TO  WAWAYANDA 

Tune — "I've   Been   Working   on   the   Railroad." 

We've   been   up  to   Wawayanda, 

All  the  livelong  day ; 
We've  been  up  to  Wawayanda, 

Just  to  pass  the  time  away. 
Oh,  what  fun  among  the  mountains 

On  our  camping  site! 
We're  a  jolly  bunch  of  campers; 

Yes,  but  we're  all 'right! 


198.     SKEDADDLE  TO  SCHENECTADY 


Tune — "John  Brown's  Body." 

(1)  Skedaddle   to    Schenectady:    These   words   my   head   ran 

through ; 
All  seemed  to  be  skedaddling,  so  I  skedaddled  too ; 
And  when  I  had  skedaddled  there,  the  "Y"  hove  in  view, 
So  I  skedaddled  in. 

Skedaddle,  daddle  to  Schenectady, 
Skedaddle,  daddle,  daddle  to  Schenectady. 
Skedaddle,  daddle  to  Schenectady, 
To  our  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

(2)  I  up  the  stairs  skedaddled,  to  ask  about  a  place 

To  sleep  and  hang  my  coat  and  hat,  and  sit  and  feed  my 

face  ; 
And  soon  I  found  a  happy  home,  without  a  weary  chase, 
So  I  skedaddled  on. 


150  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Let  cheerfulness   on  happy  fortune   wait. — Dryden. 

(3)  So  I  skedaddled  back  again  and  looked  the  building  o'er, 
From  rifle  range  down  underground,  to  lodge  on  upper 

floor ; 
I  found  more  than  enough  of  fun  to  pay  five  dollars  for, 
So  I  skedaddled  in. 

(4)  Skedaddle    through   the    locker    room,    skedaddle   on    the 

floor ; 
And  when  you  have  skedaddled  till  you  can't  skedaddle 

more, 
Skedaddle  to  the  shower  bath  and  let  the  water  pour, 
As  you  skedaddle  on. 

(5)  Skedaddle  to  the  bowling  alleys  on  the  lower  floor, 
And   make    those   balls    skedaddle    till   you've    rolled    the 

highest  score. 
Skedaddle  to  the  counter  then,  feast  on  that  goodly  store, 
And  keep  skedaddling  on. 

(6)  Skedaddle  to  the  Bible  class,  a  jolly  crowd  is  there, 
Come    in    on    Sunday   afternoons    and   join    in    song   and 

prayer. 
Good,  live,  skedaddling  Christian  men  are  needed  every- 
where, 

As  we  skedaddle  on. 

(7)  Skedaddle  to  the  members'  meetings,  meet  the  other  men ; 
Some   one  may  need   a  helping  hand  extended   now   and 

then. 
And  every  time  a  supper's  on,  skedaddle  back  again, 
And  so  skedaddle  on. 

(Adopted  as  the  city's  slogan.) 

199.     "E  YIP  I  ADDY,  I  AY" 

(1)   Now  let  us  all  sing  with  vigor  and  vim, 

Of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  we  all  love; 
How  in  good  or  bad  weather  we  all  get  together, 

And  raise  the  whole  roof  up  above. 
We're  jolly  good  fellows,  and  as  each  one  bellows, 

He  can  think  of  good  times  to  come. 
We're  in  for  hard  work,  we  want  none  who  will  shirk, 

And  we'll  make  this  old  room  fairly  hum. 

Chorus 
E  Yip  I  Addy,  I  Ay,  I  Ay,  E  Yip  T  Addy,  I  Ay. 
We're  all  very  proud  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
We're  working  in  earnest  every  day,  every  way. 
E  Yip  I  Addy,  I  Ay,  I  Ay,  E  Yip  I  Addy,  I  Ay. 
Let  a  veil  from  you  burst,  for  ye're  bound  to  be  first. 
E  Yip  I  Addy,  I  Ay. 


SOXGS  AND  YELLS  151 

A  good  laugh  is  sunshine  in  a  house. — Thackeray. 

(2)  And  now  at  this  meeting  let  each  one  give  greeting 

To  his  comrades  who've  all  gathered  here. 
Let  each  tell  a  story  of  effort  and  glory, 

And  help  spread  around  the  good  cheer. 
We  want  jokes  and  laughter  and  then  will  come  after 

The  good  things  we  all  love  to  eat. 
In  the  old  Mohawk  Valley,  that's  where  we  all  rally, 

You  find  the  "Y"  boys  hard  to  beat 

Chorus 

E  Yip  I  Addy,  I  Ay,  I  Ay,  E  Yip  I  Addy,  I  Ay. 
We're  certainly  glad  to  see  all  the  boys, 
Whether  Albany's,  Johnstown's  or  Troy's. 
E  Yip  I  Addy,  I  Ay,  I  Ay,  E  Yip  I  Addy,  I  Ay. 
Where  we'll  meet,  who  can  tell,  but  at  least  we  can  yell 
E  Yip  I  Addy,  I  Ay. 


Yell 

What's  the  matter  with  "Father  Cook"? 

He's  all  right! 
He's  a  lulu !     He's  a  Cook-oo ! 
He  gets  there  every  time ! 
We  all  rejoice  with  a  hearty  voice, 
To  see  him  get  there! 

WHO? 
Father  Cook. 
Who   says   so? 
Everybody. 
Who's  everybody? 
US! 


200.     GYM  MEN'S  SONG 


Tune— "Yip,  I  Adee." 

Flip  and  tumble  and  jump  and  run,  skip  and  wrestle  and  swim, 
We're  the  boys  that  play  basket  ball,  we  run  marathons  and 
win  them  all ; 

Bucks   and  horses   and    rings   and   clubs,  baths   and   liniment 

rubs ; 
Come  along,  join  our  song.    We  are  two  thousand  strong. 
We're  the  men  of  the  Gym. 


152  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Possession  is  nine  points  of  the  law  and  self-possession  is   the  other 
one. — The   Saturday   Evening   Post. 

201.     "WILLIE'S   BILLY   GOAT" 

Tune — "Mary  Had  a  Little  Lamb/' 

Willie  had  a  billy  goat,  billy  goat,  billy  goat, 
Willie  had  a  billy  goat,  and  it  was  black  as  ink. 
One  day  it  ate  an  oyster  can,  oyster  can,  oyster  can, 
One  day  it  ate  an  oyster  can  and  a  flannel  shirt. 

Chorus 

The  can  was  filled  with  dynamite,   dynamite,   dynamite, 
The  can  was  filled  with  dynamite,  which   Billy  thought  was 
cheese. 

Chorus 

Billy's  soul  to  heaven  went,  heaven  went,  heaven  went, 
Billy's  soul  to  heaven  went,  which  was  the  proper  thing. 

Chorus 

Whoop  to  doodle,  doodle  do,  doodle  do,  doodle  do, 
Whoop  to  doodle,  doodle  do,  the  goat  was  black  as  ink. 


202.  "A  MOTHER  WAS  CHASING  HER  BOY 
AROUND  THE  ROOM" 

A  mother  was  chasing  her  boy  around  the  room, 
Was  chasing  her  boy  around  the  room, 
And  as  she  was  chasing  her  boy  around  the  room, 
She  was  chasing  her  boy  around  the  room. 

Repeat  same  for  chorus.     Sing  as  many  verses  as 
desired. 


203.     "JUNE,  JULY  AND  AUGUSTINE" 

Tune — "Hoch  der  Lieber  Augustine." 

June,  July  and  Augustine,  Augustine,  Augustine, 
June,  July  and  Augustine,  Augustine,  June. 

Repeat,  having  the  leader  call  out  " Second  Verse,' 
"Chorus,"  "Third  Verse,"  "Chorus,"  "Fourth  Verse/ 
"Chorus,"  "As  an  encore,"  "By  special  request,"  etc. 


SONGS  AND  YELLS  153 

Love,    hope,    fear,    faith — these    make    humanity.     These    are    its    sign 
and  note  and  character. — Robert  Browning. 

204.     "TIN  DOOLEY" 

Tin  Dooley  he  thought  that  his  father  was  dead, 
His  father  he  thought  that  Tin  Dooley  was  dead. 

Repeat  over  and  over. 

205.     CLEVELAND   SONGS  AND  YELLS 
Tune— "Dear  Old  Pals." 


(1)  Dear  old  pal,  jolly  old  pal,  roaming  together  in  all  sorts 

of  weather; 
Jolly  old  pal,  Give  me  for  friendship  the  jolly  old  pal. 

(2)  O-hi-O,    Dear    O-hi-O ;    firmly    and    boldly 
We'll  always  uphold  thee. 

O-hi-O,  Dear  O-hi-O, 

We  will  be  loyal  to  O-hi-O. 

(1)  With  a  vim,  and  a  snap,  and  a  sparkle,  and  a  bubble, 
And  a  rubble,  rubble,  rubble,  and  a  sis,  sis,  boom, 
And  a  boom,  boom,  bah, 

Cleveland,  Cleveland,  Rah,  Rah,  Rah ! 

(2)  Oska  wow-wow,  wisky  wee-wee. 

Olay  muck-a-la  Cleveland  Y.  M.  C  A.  -     -    -     -    WOW. 

(3)  Slap  jack — cracker  jack — switch  back — clear  the  track; 
Tub  of  mud,  bucket  of  blood,  ka  thud,  ka  thud,   Gypsy 

WOW. 

(4)  (Long)   O-O-O    and   an    H-H-H    and    an    I-I-I    and    an 

O-H-I. 
O-O-O,  O-hi-O,  O-hi-O,  O-hi-O,  O-hi-O. 

(5)  Ta  ra  ra  ra  boom  de  ay, 

What's  the  matter  with  the  Y.  M.  C  A.? 
We're  from  Cleveland,  what  do  you  say? 
Ta  ra  ra  ra  boom  de  ay. 

— /.  William  Buttois. 


154  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

There  is  such  a  choice  of  difficulties  that  I   am  myself  at  a  loss  how 
to  determine. — Wolfe. 

206.     "IN  THE  GOOD  OLD  CAMPING  TIME" 

Tune — "In  the  Good   Old  Summer  Time/' 

There's  a  time  in  each  year 
That  we  boys  all  hold  dear, 

Good  old  camping  time ; 
When  starched  shirt  and  collar 
At    last    make    us    holler 

For  the  good  old  camping  time ! 
With  baseball  and  bruises, 
And  sunburn  and  cruises, 

Till   ma   wouldn't   know   her   own  boy; 
Some  skeeters   annoying, 
We   can't  help   enjoying, 

The  good  old  camping  time ! 

Chorus 

In  the  good  old  camping  time, 
In  the  good  old  camping  time, 
Living  'mid  the  woods  and  streams, 
What  a  joy  divine  ! 
Give  a  cheer  for  Wawayanda,  boys ! 
Let  its  fame  reach  every  clime, 
For  that's  the  place  we're  happy, 
In  the  good  old  camping  time. 


207.      "TAPS" 
A    CAMP    MEMORIAL 

(A  fine  song  for  the  last  hour  at  night  in  camp.) 

Sleep  and  rest ; 

Sweetly  rest ; 

Dreamless,  rest 

Through  the  dark  hours  of  night: 

And  may  God  keep  you  safe 

Till  the  light. 

There  is  silence  in  the  camp ; 

There  is  quiet  in  the  tent, 
While  the  night  wind,  cool  and  damp, 

Whispers  to  unheeding  ears 
Benedictions,  Heaven  sent. 


SONGS  AND  YELLS  155 

When  money  talks  it  often  merely  remarks  "Good-by."— The  Saturday 
Evening  Post. 

He  Who  guides  the  stars  above 

Guards  the   slumberers  below; 
And  the    same   all-present  love 

That  shall  raise  the  morning  sun 
Will  awaken  them,  we  know. 

In  the  tent's  a  vacant  place; 

In  the  song  a  missing  note; 
We  have  lost  a  friendly  face, 

Well-known  voice  and  step  and  hand 
From  the  fireside,  sport  and  boat. 

He  Who  gave  the  worlds  a  course 

Made  for  every  life  a  way. 
He  of  life  and  love  the  source 

Cares   for   those  he   separates: 
We  shall  meet  again,  some  day. 

Sleep  and  rest; 

Peaceful  rest; 

Safely   rest  , 

Through  the  chill  hours  of  night, 

'Neath  His  care, 

Who  will   raise  thee  in  light. 

—Frank  F.  Gray,  Montclair,  N.  J. 

208.     THE  LEADERS'  SONG 

Here's  to  the  Leaders,  one  and  all, 
Some  so  short  and  some  so  tall ; 
They're  ready  for  every  fellow's  call ; 
Here's  to  the  Leaders,  one  and  all. 

Chorus 

Away,  away  with  sword  and  gun, 
Rub-a-dub-dub,  they  come  on  the  run, 
Looking  as  if  they  were  out  for  fun, 
The  Leaders  of  Wawayanda,  O! 

You  hear  that  boy  laughing?—You  think  he's  all  fun; 

But  the  angels  laugh,  too,  at  the  good  he  has  done. 

The   children  laugh  loud  as  they  troop  to  his  call 

And  the  poor  man  who  knows  ^hs^of  ^ 


156 


SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 


Is  there  to  your  eyes  any  practical,  decisive  line  of  demarcation 
between  Christian  association  and  association  that  is  not  Christian? — 
Amos  R.  Wells. 


209.     SMILE    SONG 


SMILE  WHENEVER  YOU  CAN 


Mode  rat  o 


S  K.  EMU  B  IAN 


PIANO 


1.  When-e'er  thingsdon't  go    to       suit      you.  And  the  world  seems   up  -  side        down, Don't 

2. Why  should   you    dread    the      raor      row.     And       thus     des-poi]     the         day? For 

3.  And      tho'  you're  strong  and     stur  -  dy.    You  may  have     an    emp  -  ty  purse.  _     (And 


waste    your   time       in       fret    -    ting.      But     drive       a  -  way      that       frown: Since 

when      you    bor  -   row     trou    •    ble,       You       a)   -  ways   have      to         pay.  It 

earth      has    man  ■   y         tn     -     als     Which       1  con  -  sid    -     er         worse.)  _         But 


life         is     oft       per  •   plex 
is  a    good      old       max 

wheth  •  er    joy       or        sor 


ing    ""Tis      much     the  wi9    -    est        plan, To 

im.  Which  should     be    oft    -    en        preached..      Don't 
row.      Fill        up      your  mor  -  tal        span Twill 


SONGS  AND  YELLS 


157 


Learn  a  man's  limitations.  If  you  make  him  bite  off  more  than  he 
can  chew,  don't  get  mad  at  him  if  he  has  to  spit  it  out. — George  Horace 
Lorimer. 


f 

■ 

r\ 

bear 
cros9 
make 

all     tri    -    als 
the  bridge     be 
your  path  •  way 

brave 
fore 
bright 

you. 
er. 

And 

Un    - 
To 

smile 
til 

smile 

when 

the 

when 

ev  -  er     you 
bridge        is 
ev  -  er     you 

can. 

reached, 
can. 

-  « 

4±- 

*» 

\ 

■■     ■     J'         ^~- 

' 1— 

*     t       I 

CHORUS  Jubilant 


Smile  when-ev-er  you     can.  Smile  when-ev-er  you    can.         'Twill  make  your  path-way 


*  r  f  pppir  *  pit  p 


jj)iJ  jjj> 


Smile  when-ev-er  you  can.       'Twill  make  your  pathway  bright-er, To  smile  whenev-er  you  car 


158 


SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 


Every  living  soul  responds  to  an  expression  of  friendship.  It  holds 
men  together,  vitalizes  and  makes  our  organization  alive. — Edmund 
McDonald,    Jr. 


210.     SILVER   BAY   SONG 

Dedicated  to  the  friends  of  Youne  Men's  Christian  Assoe-alions  whose  beneficence  made  Silver  Bay  possible 

SILVER  BAY. 

Words  and  Music  by  FRANK  P.  SPEARE 


etren  -  u  -  os  -  i  -  ty.  lis  said  of  mod  -  ern  <-i  -  ty  life, 
once  we  used  to  go  a  -  way  and  board  down  on  the  farm, 
aeorch-ing  rays      of     sum-mer     drive      us        all  in-  to        the  hills. 


sure-ly  mak  -  ing  us      in  -  to      a     na-tion.     anation,  of  nervous  cranks  and  spindle  shanks  and 

left  our  hap  -  py  homes  with  tears  of    sor-row.    ofsorrow.We         might  be  hot    and  tir- ed     as       we 
pack  ourtrunkswithmer-ryshoutsof    laughter,  of  laughterAnd       hike    it  straight  for  SI  1  -  ver    Bay     the 


Copyright  1908  by  Frank  P.Speare 


SONGS  AND  YELLS 


159 


Smith  is  sure  by  his  downcast  expression  that  Jones  is  in  trouble, 
but  he  dees  not  go  to  his  aid  because  he  fears  he  will  offend  him. — 
Amos   R.  Wells. 


olh  -  er  sorts  of  freaks 
tum-bled  off  the  train, 
place  that  cures  oar  ills. 


The    ve  -  ry  worst  there  are     in    all     ere-    a  ■  Don      Ohl  We 

But    feet  were cold  when  we  woke  up      to-mor-row      Oh!  Forth*, 

And    our     af  -  fec-tionsdeep  will  hold  here  -  af  -   ter      Oh!  Oh  the 


nev    - 

er 

stop 

to 

chew 

our 

food 

but 

bolt 

it 

While 

we 

run 

bread 

was 

black 

and 

sour 

and 

the 

milk 

was 

blue 

a? 

clay 

girls 

ar>- 

sim    . 

ply 

peach 

.  es 

and 

of 

course 

the 

mei> 

are 

fine 

Ana 

<*  nd  from 
Yoo 


ev" 

ry     one 

is 

on 

his  mark 

five 

to     twen   - 

tv 

dol 

lars    for 

could 

n't     strike 

it 

rich 

W          if 

and  wait  ing  for  the  gun 
the  stuff  we  had  to  pay. 
you      owned       a       cop        pel  mint  . 


Then 
And 
And 


160  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Cheerfulness   is   an   offshoot  of   goodness   and   wisdom. — Bovee. 


on    -     ly     place      to  stay  When  the     frogs     be  -  gin        to    sing  chug^hug  And,  the 


birds  are    on     the  wing  The   lake     so      fair  with  its  hills   and  balm- y  air,     '    Will 


211.     SONG— MONTREAL,  CANADA 

Je  te  plumerai  le  cou,  je  te  plumerai  le  cou, 
Et  le  cou,  et  le  cou,  et  les  pattes,  et  les  pattes, 
Et  le  dos,  et  le  dos,  et  le  nez,  et  le  nez, 
Et  le  bee,  et  le  bee,  et  la  tete,  et  la  tete,  O,  etc. 


SONGS  AND  YELLS 


161 


Nothing    great    was    ever    achieved    without    enthusiasm. — Emerson. 


Alouette. 
Old  mnob-Canadun  Sons. 


SONGS  AND  YELLS 


163 


Character  is   the   capital   of   every   man,   and  the   only   capital   a  poor 
man   has. — Anon. 

212.     FOR  MORNING  BIBLE  STUDY 


Tune — "Praise  Him/' 

Jesus,   Master,   here   in  Thy  name  we  are  gathered. 

Come  and  teach  us  out  of  Thy  holy  Word, 

We  will  follow  whithersoever  Thou  leadest, 

Tell  us  only  what  is  the  way  preferred, 

By  the  lake  of  old  Thou  didst  teach  Thy  children : 

Come  and  teach  us  here  by  the  lakeside  now. 

Chorus 

Hear   us,   hear   us,   Jesus,    our   blessed   Companion. 
Hear  us,  Saviour,  while  in  Thy  name  we  bow. 

Jesus,  Master,  tell  of  the  awful  temptations 
Borne  that  Thou  mightst  set  Thy  people  free. 
Show  us  how  we  too  may  be  strong  in  our  trials. 
Show  us,  Saviour,  how  we  can  be  like  Thee ; 
Like  a  brother,  speak  to  us  now,  we  pray  Thee, 
Let  the  Leader  give  us  Thy  message  now. 

Chorus.     Hear  us,  hear  us,  etc. 

213.     THE  WAWAYANDA  GRACE 

frank  F.  GLta^ . 

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Fa-+V\er  for  tKts         -noonday  vr\ea\  ,        Vie  *<ou\4  speak  flat    prd\se  xefeel , 
Tire-less  quarfia*         of  ©*.r    waj,         TVou  Vmstkee*  us    well  "tliia  da\j , 


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GravtftW  <x\\*ie  door  6a^  ,  1y\  TVvy  service  be  tW'is  d  a-j 
He-aHV\  cwd^rew^We  Wave  frowTiaet,  Help  us, Lord,to  faifMul  be 
VlViile  yje^avXThee,    >je  request  ,    Care  covi.Wv.ed,    par-dc*^,  rest 


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164  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Gossip  may  sometimes  tell  the  truth,  but  it  seldom  gets  caught  at  it. 
— The   Saturday  Evening   Post. 

214.     FOR  EVENING  SERVICE 
Tune — "Saviour,  Breathe  an  Evening  Blessing." 

Now  the  sun  is  slowly  sinking 

O'er  the  waters  dark  and  deep ; 

And  our  hearts  are  heavenward  turning 

To  our  Master  ere  we  sleep. 

While  the  hush  of  summer  twilight 
Steals  upon   our   spirits   here, 
Wilt  Thou,  Lord,  descend  among  us, 
Let  us  feel  Thy  presence  near. 

For  the  day  and  all  its  pleasures 
Grateful  thanks  we  render  now; 
May  our  lives  pass  on  the  blessing 
None  could  give  to  us  but  Thou. 

May  each  camper  come  to  know  Thee 
As  his  strong,  abiding  Friend: 
May  we  in  our  hearts  determine 
We  will  serve  Thee  to  the  end. 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS 

215.     RULES  FOR  GROUPING  CLUBS 

1.  Mass  Work  and  Group  Work.  There  are 
Associations  in  which  only  mass  work  is  done  for  boys. 
The  entire  boy  membership  is  massed,  and  all  come  to 
the  same  religious  meeting.  It  does  not  matter 
whether  this  mass  numbers  twenty  or  two  hundred 
boys,  the  idea  is  the  same.  Every  boy  is  treated  as 
though  he  were  exactly  like  every  other  boy.  There 
is  but  one  hopper  into  which  all  are  poured,  and  but 
one  set  of  rollers  through  which  all  are  ground.  Of 
course  some  effort  is  made  to  adapt  the  work  to  the 
needs  of  the  largest  number,  but  the  result  is  always 
the  same;  there  are  either  boys  receiving  work  which 
is  not  adapted  to  them,  or  the  Association  is  reaching 
only  those  to  whom  the  work  is  adapted.  Sometimes 
the  membership  becomes  so  large  that  the  mass  has 
to  be  divided.  This,  however,  is  not  grouping,  as  the 
method  followed  with  each  division  is  identical.  When 
a  division  becomes  necessary,  two  courses  lie  open ; 
to  divide  the  mass,  or  to  group  the  mass.  Sometimes 
when  the  former  is  done  every  alternate  name  is 
selected  from  the  membership  roll.  Sometimes  boys 
who  have  taken  out  tickets  in  November  go  in  one  divi- 
sion, and  those  who  have  taken  out  tickets  in  December 
go  in  the  other  division.  This  is  not  grouping.  It  is 
merely  dividing  the  mass.  When,  however,  the 
membership  is  sorted  out  with  relation  to  natural 
cleavage,  into  such  groups  as  older  and  younger  boys, 
or  school  and  employed  boys,  then  grouping  begins. 
It  is  certainly  a  source  of  gratification  to  know  that 
the  method  of  drawing  lots  to  see  where  a  boy  should 
be  placed  has  given  way  to  at  least  an  elementary 
system  of  grouping. 

Associations  which  have  gone  to  the  extreme  where 
they  have  only  group  work,  have  discovered  that  they 
have    lost    much.     Although    mass    work    at    its    best 


166  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

A  verse  may  find  him  who  a   sermon   flies, 

And   turn   delight   into   a   sacrifice. — George   Herbert. 

cannot  be  other  than  superficial,  still  it  is  necessary. 
The  smaller  and  more  natural  the  grouping,  as  a  rule, 
the  greater  the  possibility  for  thorough  and  adapted 
work.  There  are  times  when  boys  want  to  be  with 
their  own  "bunch"  or  "gang,"  but  there  are  other  times 
when  their  sole  reason  for  going  somewhere  is  because 
the  "whole  push"  is  going.  There  is  an  enthusiasm 
which  comes  from  numbers,  an  enthusiasm  which  grips 
a  boy  more  strongly  than  it  grips  a  man.  It  is  possible 
to  make  the  mass  of  such  absorbing  interest  that  the 
boys  of  a  community  will  feel  that  the  mass  is  "it"  and 
that  they  will  be  very  much  "left"  if  they  are  not  in  it. 
Without  doubt,  thorough  work  can  be  done  in  a  group 
Bible  class,  but  there  are  hundreds  of  boys  who  can 
be  reached  by  a  large  enthusiastic  meeting,  who  cannot 
be  persuaded  to  attend  a  class.  There  is  a  big  differ- 
ence, too,  between  the  little  social  spread  of  the  group, 
and  the  annual  banquet,  especially  if  a  fellow  feels 
that  he  is  about  the  only  boy  in  town  who  is  not  there. 
We  certainly  must  not  turn  our  backs  altogether  upon 
large  and  enthusiastic  mass  work,  for  the  band  wagon, 
the  procession  and  the  "whole  push"  have  compelling 
power  with  many  boys. 

2.  Grouping  by  Age.  One  of  the  most  simple 
methods  of  grouping,  and,  if  unsupplemented,  one  of 
the  most  unsatisfactory,  is  grouping  by  age.  Of 
course  grouping  by  age  is  far  in  advance  of  no  group- 
ing at  all,  but  unless  it  has  some  elasticity  it  is  fatal  to 
the  best  interests  of  the  most  mature  boys.  The  stan- 
dard of  work  for  the  group  is  naturally  adapted  to  the 
average  boy  in  the  group,  and  those  who  are  above 
the  average,  those  who  are  in  fact  the  most  valuable 
members,  are  held  back  or  allowed  to  drop  out.  This 
is  true,  no  matter  how  narrow  the  limits  of  the  group 
may  be,  for  even  every  fourteen-year-old  boy  is  not 
like  every  other  fourteen-year-old  boy,  physically, 
intellectually,  or  spiritually.  Although  the  calendar 
may  help  in  the  grouping,  it  certainly  should  not  be 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  167 

Who  will   not  mercy  unto    others   show, 

How  can  he  mercy  ever  hope  to  have? — Spenser. 

considered  final  authority.  Out  of  fifty  Associations 
recently  investigated,  forty-four  show  a  "valley"  or 
falling-off  in  membership  at  the  ages  of  fourteen, 
fifteen  or  sixteen,  the  most  critically  important  years 
as  far  as  a  man's  life's  direction  is  concerned.  The 
reason  for  this  falling-off  seems  clearly  to  be  that  these 
boys  had  outgrown  the  group  in  which  they  were 
placed,  or  were  compelled  by  the  necessity  of  earning 
a  livelihood  to  leave  it.  This  condition  is  deplorable. 
That  is  a  poor  bridge  which  has  three  or  four  arches 
missing  where  the  river  is  deepest  and  the  current  runs 
strongest.  It  is  bad  business  management,  to  say  the 
least,  to  let  many  of  the  best  members  drop  out  because 
of  failure  to  adapt  the  work  to  their  needs. 

Althoug-h  absolute  uniformity  has  not  yet  been 
reached  on  the  question  of  age  grouping,  the  variety  of 
age  limits  is  rapidly  decreasing,  and  a  few  clearly 
defined  groups  are  taking  the  place  of  the  great  variety 
of  ill-defined  groups  which  used  to  exist.  As  far  as 
can  be  discovered,  the  best  Association  sentiment  of 
today  favors  approximately  the  following  grouping: 
boys  under  twelve  are  placed  in  a  preparatory  group 
and  are  for  convenience  spoken  of  as  little  boys  or 
children ;  boys  of  about  twelve  to  fourteen  years  of 
age  are  referred  to  as  younger  boys  or  juniors;  boys 
of  about  fifteen  to  seventeen  and  sometimes  even  older 
are  referred  to  as  older  boys  or  intermediates.  The 
work  for  the  older  boy  group,  although  different  from 
that  of  adults,  is  more  like  it  than  it  is  like  that  of  the 
younger  boys.  One  thing  is  certain,  the  Association 
which  attempts  to  treat  the  older  boy  group  as  it  would 
a  group  of  "kids,"  makes  a  fatal  mistake.  A  number 
of  Associations,  because  of  limited  facilities,  are  unable 
to  do  work  for  children  without  neglecting  their  legiti- 
mate and  more  important  work  for  older  boys.  In 
order  to  effectively  prosecute  this  work  for  older  boys, 
they  have  been  obliged  to  cut  out  the  work  for  children. 
When  an  Association  can  accommodate  only  200  boys. 


168  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Punctuality  meets  an  engagement.  Promptness  meets  a  situation. 
Proficiency  meets  both. — The   Saturday  Evening  Post. 

it  is  poor  policy  to  fill  the  building  with  children,  and 
in  consequence  be  unable  to  accommodate  older  boys. 
It  is  far  better  to  let  the  children  wait  a  couple  of 
years,  and  then  pass  into  continuous  Association 
membership,  than  to  take  them  in  now  and  let  them 
slip  through  your  fingers  three  or  four  years  from  now. 
Some  Associations,  because  of  the  conviction  that 
"work  for  men  should  begin  when  manhood  begins" 
believe  that  work  for  children,  although  exceedingly 
important,  is  not  the  legitimate  field  of  an  Association 
which  works  for  men.  Still  other  Associations  regard 
work  for  children  as  an  outside  business  enterprise, 
and  just  as  they  might  conduct  gymnasium  classes  for 
girls  at  five  dollars  a  head,  so  they  conduct  a  work  for 
little  boys,  primarily  for  the  revenue.  Children  are 
under  the  influence  of  the  home  and  Sunday  school 
as  older  boys  are  not.  Sunday  school  workers  freely 
admit  that  out  of  every  hundred  boys  enrolled  in  the 
Sunday  school,  seventy-five  will  desert  the  school 
shortly  after  entering  their  teens.  Others  give  figures 
which  show  that  there  are  more  boys  of  twelve  years 
of  age  in  Sunday  school  than  of  any  other  one  age. 
that  there  are  fewer  at  thirteen,  still  fewer  at  fourteen 
and  hardly  any  at  fifteen  and  sixteen.  In  other  words, 
high  water  mark  for  the  attendance  of  boys  at  Sunday 
schools  is  at  twelve,  and  low  water  mark  is  at  fifteen 
or  sixteen.  Where  Association  work  is  weak  and 
poorly  organized,  this  same  condition  prevails.  There 
are  towns  where  the  Association  and  the  Sunday 
school  both  reach  and  both  lose  the  same  boys.  There 
are  other  Associations  where  the  work  for  boys  is 
strong  and  well-organized,  where  low  water  mark  in 
the  membership  is  at  twelve,  and  high  water  mark  at 
fifteen  or  sixteen,  where  the  Association  reaches  the 
boys  which  the  Sunday  school  loses. 

A  good  illustration  of  the  change  of  emphasis  from 
younger  to  older  boy  work  is  that  of  Worcester,  Massa- 
chusetts, the  figures  of  which  are  given  below : 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  169 

They   are   never   alone   that  are   accompanied   with   noble   thoughts.— 
Sir   Philip   Sidney. 

Children  Younger  Boys              Older  Boys 

Ages 9       1(T1T  12~~vTT4:  'l5      16      17      18~  Total 

May  1901....      1        6      16  36      38      41  23        7        0        0  168 

Sept.  1902...      0        0        3  34      45      50  lb      hi       58      28  3ol 

One  cannot  but  notice  that  while  this  Association  is 
doing  no  less  for  younger  boys  than  formerly,  it  has 
reached,  in  addition,  nearly  200  older  boys.  Our  Asso- 
ciations are  well  adapted  to  reach  the  older  boys,  and 
generally  succeed  when  they  set  out  to  do  it,  but  in 
order  to  do  it,  many  are  obliged  to  utterly  abandon 
the  work  for  children  and  to  change  the  emphasis  from 
work  for  younger  boys  to  work  for  older  boys. 

The  age  limit  twelve  to  sixteen  which  was  so  much 
used  a  few  years  ago,  and  which  still  is  used  in  many 
places,  has  not  been  found  satisfactory.  Still  more 
unsatisfactory  has  been  the  massing  of  boys  from  ten 
to  sixteen.  There  is  too  great  a  difference  between  a 
twelve-  and  a  sixteen-year-old  boy  to  make  possible  the 
treating  of  them  together  with  equal  satisfaction. 
This  difficulty  is  only  aggravated  when  the  limits  are 
ten  to  sixteen.  Because  in  so  many  Associations,  six- 
teen- and  seventeen-year-old  seniors  with  their  livelier 
ways  and  quicker  pace  were  unintentionally  and  un- 
consciously driving  out  young  men,  the  demand  for  a 
higher  age  limit  in  the  senior  group  has  been  keenly 
felt.  A  number  of  leading  Associations  are  now 
beginning  their  senior  group  at  approximately  eighteen 
instead  of  sixteen  as  formerly.  Wherever  this  has 
been  faithfully  tried,  the  results  have  been  uniformly 
gratifying.  It  seems  clear,  judging  from  the  expe- 
rience of  some  progressive  Associations  and  from  the 
best  Association  sentiment  generally,  that  a  graded 
work  is  inevitable,  and  as  far  as  can  be  seen  at  present, 
the  lines  of  cleavage  for  age  groups  seem  to  fall  more 
nearly  between  seventeen  and  eighteen,  between  four- 
teen and  fifteen,  and  between  eleven  and  twelve  than 
at  any  other  definite  places.  It  is  well  here  to  repeat 
that  these  lines  are  approximate  and  not  absolute,  and 
also  to  intimate  that  in  a  work  for  young  men,  the 


170  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

No  man  is  a  hypocrite  in  his  pleasures. — Samuel  Johnson. 

emphasis  should  be  placed  first  on  work  for  young  men, 
second  on  work  for  older  boys  and  third  on  work  for 
younger  boys. 

3.  Grouping  by  Height  and  Weight.  Fre- 
quently the  practice  of  grouping  boys  by  height  and 
weight  is  followed  for  gymnasium  work.  The  larger 
boys  go  into  one  class,  the  smaller  boys  into  another, 
regardless  of  their  age  and  sometimes  regardless  of 
their  gymnastic  ability.  Frequently  a  boy's  height  and 
weight  decide  whether  he  will  be  taken  into  the  Asso- 
ciation when  he  is  under  age.  In  some  Associations, 
if  a  boy  measures  56^  inches  and  weighs  81  pounds, 
he  is  admitted  to  the  younger  boy  group  regardless  of 
his  age,  and  likewise  if  he  measures  63^4  inches,  and 
weighs  114  pounds,  he  is  admitted  to  the  older  boy 
group.  The  figures  given  are  a  trifle  in  excess  of  the 
height  and  weight  of  the  average  twelve-  and  fifteen- 
year-old  boys.  This  should  never  be  used  as  a  final 
test  for  Association  membership,  but  only  as  a  supple- 
mentary test  with  special  relation  to  gymnasium  work. 

4.  Grouping  by  Competition  or  Merit.  Places 
on  the  gymnasium  leaders'  corps  are  generally  com- 
peted for  by  boys.  Both  gymnastic  ability  and  deport- 
ment are  taken  into  consideration.  The  leaders'  corps 
is  a  group  of  leaders.  Special  privileges  and  respon- 
sibilities are  generally  given  them.  It  seems  but  right 
that  boys  should  qualify  for  this  position,  rather  than 
simply  acquire  it  through  seniority  or  appointment. 
The  idea  of  merit  is  generally  involved  in  grouping 
•for  educational  classes,  and  boys  find  their  way  into 
the  classes  where  they  naturally  belong.  In  one  Asso- 
ciation, graduation  from  one  Bible  class  to  another 
depends  on  merit,  and  sufficient  incentive  is  always 
given  so  that  boys  wish  to  go  from  class  to  class  at 
least  once  a  year. 

5.  Grouping  by  Price.  One  Association,  to  meet 
the  case  of  boys  who  were  unable  to  pay  the  full 
membership  price,  arranged  for  a  group  which  could 
have  one  gymnasium  class  a  week  at  a  lower  price  than 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  171 

A  clear  fire — a  clean  hearth  and  the  rigor  of  the  game. — Lamb. 

the  other  group  of  boys  which  received  two.  This  is 
not  a  general  practice,  but  it  seems  to  work  satisfac- 
torily where  it  has  been  tried.  Another  Association 
conducts  five  boys'  departments ;  one  in  its  building, 
and  four  at  outlying  points.  This  is  done  primarily  in 
order  that  boys  who  are  unable  to  pay  the  full  mem- 
bership fee  at  central,  can  be  reached  through  a  sim- 
pler form  of  work  outside  the  building.  Other  Asso- 
ciations are  conducting  two  boys'  departments;  one  in 
the  building  for  its  regular  members,  the  other  out- 
side the  building  for  boys  who  cannot  afford  to  pay  the 
full  membership  fees.  Although  there  is  not  much 
experience  yet  on  this  line  of  work,  what  there  is 
seems  to  be  satisfactory. 

6.  Grouping  by  School  Grade.  This  is  generally 
an  internal  grouping.  Frequently  a  students'  club  is 
organized  within  the  older  boy  grade,  and  only  high 
school  boys  are  eligible.  Sometimes  the  personnel  of 
Bible  classes  is  regulated  largely  by  the  school  grade 
of  the  members.  It  certainly  seems  more  natural  that 
membership  in  a  literary  club,  for  instance,  should  be 
regulated  more  with  relation  to  the  school  grade  than 
with  relation  to  the  age  or  height  or  weight  of  the 
individual  or  his  ability  to  pay  the  price. 

7.  Grouping  by  Occupation.  It  needs  no  argu- 
ment nor  data  to  convince  any  observing  man  that  the 
Associations  must  give  attention  to  employed  boys  as 
well  as  to  schoolboys.  In  nearly  every  city  there  are 
at  least  two  boys  at  work  for  every  boy  in  school, 
between  the  ages  of  twelve  and  eighteen.  Much  of 
the  schoolboy  work  can  be  done  before  six  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  but  the  employed  boy  work  must  be 
done  in  the  evenings  and  holidays.  Each  of  these  two 
main  groupings,  schoolboys  and  employed  boys,  is 
subdivided  on  the  basis  of  younger  and  older  boys. 
Some  Associations  find  it  necessary  to  conduct  only 
the  older  grade  of  work  for  the  employed  boys.  When 
Associations  find  that  they  are  able  to  conduct  work 
for  only  three  groups  of  boys,  the  groups  chosen  are 


172  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

A    man   never    catches    up   with   his    good    intentions    for   tomorrow. — 
The  Saturday   Evening   Post. 

generally  the  younger  and  the  older  schoolboys  and 
the  older  employed  boys.  The  work  for  the  student 
and  employed  classes  is  not  only  conducted  at  different 
times,  but  the  character  of  the  work  is  different,  in 
order  to  meet  their  different  needs. 

There  seems  also  to  be  a  natural  line  of  cleavage 
between  the  commercial  and  the  industrial  boys.  Some 
Associations  reach  only  commercial  boys,  messenger 
boys,  boys  from  offices  and  department  stores,  while 
other  Associations  reach  almost  exclusively  industrial 
boys  from  the  mills,  shops  and  factories.  Sometimes 
these  two  classes  have  been  referred  to  as  the  "collar 
and  necktie"  working  boy,  and  the  "overall"  working 
boy.  It  is  evident  that  their  needs  are  different,  that 
the  Association  may  reach  whichever  class  it  sets  out 
to  reach,  and  that  it  can  only  reach  both  classes  effec- 
tually by  grouping  them  separately  and  adapting  the 
work  to  the  needs  of  each. 

8.  Growing  About  a  Person.  In  some  Associa- 
tions the  only  adults  who  are  centers  of  groups  are  the 
employed  officers.  This  is  unfortunate.  There  is  no 
reason,  for  instance,  why  the  secretary  should  teach 
all  the  Bible  classes  and  be  the  moving  spirit  in  the 
literary  groups  and  the  collecting  groups  and  the  social 
groups  and  the  musical  groups  and  so  on.  Some  sec- 
retaries have  discovered  that  it  is  better  policy  to  spend 
an  hour  in  teaching  a  teacher  than  in  teaching  a  class ; 
and  in  leading  a  leader  than  in  leading  a  group.  The 
writer  has  one  in  mind  who  has  enlisted  thirty  volun- 
teer men,  each  of  whom  has  gathered  about  him  a 
group  of  from  ten  to  thirty  boys.  In  the  thirty  small 
groups,  there  are  over  700  boys.  Frequently  eight  or 
ten  of  these  groups  are  in  session  in  different  rooms  at 
the  same  time.  This  secretary  has  multiplied  his  in- 
fluence. It  is  certainly  desirable  to  group  boys  about 
virile  men  of  noble  thought  and  contagious  Chris- 
tianity. It  matters  not  so  much  whether  the  man  is 
a  sign-painter,  a  poet,  a  student  of  nature,  a  plumber 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  173 

Of  which,  if  there  be  a  severe,  sour-complexioned  man,  then  I  have 
disallowed  him  to   be  a   competent  judge. — Isaac   Walton. 

or  a  Bible  teacher,  so  long-  as  his  influence  over  his 
group  helps  them,  to  higher  things. 

9.  Grouping  Because  of  Common  Experience. 
This  seems  to  be  the  spirit  of  alumni  groups,  of  camp 
clubs  and  the  like.  The  camp  Bible  class  at  Winchester 
is  an  illustration  of  this  kind  of  grouping.  These  boys 
openly  confessed  their  determination  to  begin  the 
Christian  life  at  camp  last  summer,  and  because  of 
common  experience  in  camp  have  been  grouped  in  a 
Bible  class  in  the  Association  at  home.  Bible  classes 
for  young  converts  would  come  under  this  head. 

10.  Grouping  by  Appointment  or  Selection. 
Committees  which  are  appointed  become  groups  of 
this  order.  The  cohesiveness  of  such  groups  depends 
much  on  the  wisdom  of  their  selection.  Frequently  the 
one  who  appoints  committees  selects  first  his  chairmen, 
and  calling  them  together  consults  with  them  regard- 
ing the  boys  who  are  to  be  appointed  on  their  various 
committees.  The  man  who  appoints  committees  of 
boys  haphazard  is  not  likely  to  succeed. 

11.  Grouping  by  Location.  One  Association 
opened  several  athletic  fields  in  different  quarters  of 
the  city,  and  grouped  the  boys  of  each  neighborhood 
in  each  field.  Each  field  played  off  against  the  others. 
The  winners  were  presented  with  medals  and  their 
names  were  engrossed  on  a  shield  in  the  city  hall.  All 
of  these  fields  were  controlled  from  the  central  head- 
quarters of  the  Association.  One  Association  has 
organized  in  the  twelve  grammar  and  high  schools  in 
its  neighborhood  chapters  of  an  order  with  headquar- 
ters in  the  Association  building,  from  which  the  activi- 
ties of  all  the  chapters  are  controlled.  This  is  an 
organization  for  clean  speech  and  clean  living,  and  is 
managed  directly  by  a  cabinet  of  three  boys  from  each 
chapter,  which  meets  in  the  central  headquarters.  In 
other  cities  affiliated  clubs  are  located  in  different 
churches.  In  other  places  branches  are  conducted  in 
the  remote  districts  of  the  city. 


174  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

He  who  follows  another  is  always  behind. — The  Saturday  Evening 
Post. 

Another  form  of  grouping  by  location  is  illustrated 
by  a  canoe-building  class  which  meets  in  a  boat  shop 
remote  from  the  Association  building. 

12.  Grouping  in  Small  Self-Governing  Clubs. 
This  is  at  the  same  time  one  of  the  most  effective  and 
most  dangerous  forms  of  grouping;  effective  if  con- 
trolled, dangerous  and  possibly  disastrous  when  not 
controlled.  There  are  stamp  clubs,  literary  clubs, 
athletic  teams,  social  clubs  and  even  religious  clubs  of 
this  kind  which  have  their  own  president,  secretary 
and  treasurer.  They  are  inclusive  rather  than  exclu- 
sive. The  idea  is  to  include  all  fellows  who  are  in- 
terested in  the  purpose  of  the  club.  Some  necessary 
safeguards  for  these  small  clubs  are:  (1)  Have  no 
club  without  an  altruistic  motive.  Clubs  that  are 
purely  selfish  in  spirit  can  result  in  nothing  but  dis- 
aster in  the  lives  of  the  members  and  to  the  clubs  as 
well.  (2)  Every  club  should  have  an  adult  adviser. 
If  the  club  turns  down  his  advice,  as  a  rule  he  needs 
the  looking  after  and  not  the  club.  Clubs  will  regard 
the  advice  of  the  man  they  respect.  (3)  There  should 
be  a  clear  understanding  that  whatever  property  the 
club  accumulates  is  to  be  the  property  of  the  Associa- 
tion. It  would  be  unfortunate,  for  instance,  if  a  lit- 
erary club  should  accumulate  a  library  and  then  be- 
come disgruntled  and  sell  the  library  and  divide  the 
proceeds.  Literary  clubs  should  be  encouraged  to 
accumulate  a  library  for  the  benefit  of  the  entire  mem- 
bership, chemistry  clubs  to  arrange  a  series  of  practi- 
cal talks  for  all  the  boys,  musical  clubs  to  contribute 
to  the  general  enjoyment,  and  so  on.  Some  Associa- 
tions have  practically  changed  their  committees  into 
small  self-governing  clubs ;  instead  of  having  a  musi- 
cal committee  they  have  a  musical  club  with  its  own 
officers. 

13.  Grouping  in  Secret  Fraternities.  This 
form  of  grouping  is  opposed  by  many,  under  the  im- 
pression that  it  is  damaging  to  a  boy  to  have  secrets. 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  175 

Good  temper  is  like  a  sunny  day;  it  sheds  its  brightness  on  every- 
thing.— Anon. 

It  should  be  understood  that  in  every  fraternity  con- 
nected with  the  Association,  the  president  of  the  Asso- 
ciation and  some  one  of  the  paid  officers  are  ex  officio 
members.  At  one  boys'  camp  a  group  of  fellows  got 
together  in  a  fraternity  which  they  called  "The 
Eagles."  The  leader  of  the  camp  was  the  moving 
spirit.  The  purpose  of  the  fraternity  was  altruistic 
and  ennobling.  There  was  a  simple  initiation,  a  pass- 
word and  a  sign.  The  leader  thoroughly  believes  in 
the  good  results  of  such  a  fraternity.  Fraternity  Bible 
elapses  have  been  conducted  with  good  results.  The 
writer  knows  of  a  "Band  of  Indians"  which  was  organ- 
ized on  this  basis  with  its  own  chief,  medicine  man  and 
keeper  of  the  wampum.  The  chief  was  supposed  to 
round  up  his  tribe  at  the  Sunday  meeting,  and  he  did 
this  successfully.  The  Indians  decorated  their  council 
chamber  with  appropriate  decorations.  Their  leader 
read  Hiawatha  to  them.  No  evil  results  have  been 
discovered  because  of  this  fraternity,  but  rather  the 
contrary.  A  wise  adult  adviser  on  the  inside  of  each 
fraternity  can  head  off  any  dangerous  tendencies. 

14.  Grouping  About  a  Dominating  Interest. 
This  simply  means  to  gather  in  a  group  the  boys  whose 
dominating  interest  is  in  nature  study,  for  instance; 
the  boys  who  are  interested  in  stamp  or  coin  or  curio 
collecting;  those  whose  interest  seems  to  lie  in  games 
of  skill ;  those  interested  in  industrial  occupations ; 
those  interested  in  athletics  or  literary  pursuits  or 
music.  Sometimes  the  dominating  interest  of  the 
group  will  be  a  religious  or  moral  purpose. — Edgar 
M.  Robinson  in  Association  Boys. 

216.     PHILADELPHIA'S     SCHEME    OF    CLUB 
GROUPING 

At  Philadelphia  Central  the  secretary  for  boys  is 
not  a  boys'  work  director  in  the  usual  sense  of  the 
term.  He  is  the  specialist  to  whom  the  Association 
looks   for  advice  in  everything  that  pertains  to  boy- 


176  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Be  true  to  your  word,  your  work,  your  friend,  and  your  God. — Anon. 

hood.  With  him  the  initiation  of  boys'  work  plans 
begins,  but  under  the  plan  of  administration,  as  it  has 
been  wrought  out  by  Mr.  Walter  M.  Wood,  the  gen- 
eral secretary  of  the  branch,  the  responsibility  for  its 
execution  lies  with  the  heads  of  the  three  departments 
of  House  Privileges,  Instruction  and  Service.  This 
does  away  with  the  office  of  boys'  work  director,  since 
these  men  are  answerable  for  work  with  both  men  and 
boys,  thus  securing  unity  in  Association  membership 
and  activities,  with  logical  and  consecutive  groupings 
from  the  younger  boys  to  the  older  men.  The  secre- 
tary for  boys,  because  of  this  form  of  administration, 
becomes  the  associate  of  the  general  secretary,  initiat- 
ing activities  for  boys  in  the  same  manner  as  the  gen- 
eral secretary  supervises  the  work  for  men.  The  field 
of  the  secretary  for  boys  thus  becomes :  first,  close  per- 
sonal contact  with  the  boys  (boys  over  twelve  years  in 
the  building  or  out  of  it) ,  and  with  their  parents,  teach- 
ers, or  employers ;  second,  a  study  of  the  needs  and 
possibilities  which  become  apparent  at  this  close  range ; 
and,  third,  suggesting  to  the  department  heads  activi- 
ties to  meet  these  conditions,'  besides  exercising  gen- 
eral supervision  in  their  operation  and  conduct. 

Under  conditions  like  the  above  an  opportunity  was 
afforded  for  an  effort  looking  to  a  balanced  scheme 
of  work  along  physical,  mental,  social,  and  spiritual 
lines  for  boys.  It  also  afforded  a  splendid  chance  to 
experiment,  with  a  view  to  combining  adult  leadership 
in  Association  activity  with  the  free  play  of  the  idea 
of  self-government  among  the  boys.  The  civic  effort, 
until  the  initiation  of  the  Philadelphia  scheme,  had 
been  a  kind  of  a  superimposed  activity  instead  of  an 
integral  part  of  boys'  work,  and  because  of  this  had  a 
fleeting  and  questionable  value.  The  situation  at  the 
Central  Branch  made  possible  a  new  adaptation  of  the 
civic  idea,  and  bound  with  it  an  opportunity  for  a 
closely  supervised,  well-balanced  work  with  boys  look- 
ing to  self-development  and  altruistic  service  that  had 
previously  been  somewhat  of  a  wished-for  dream. 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  177 

The  best  way  to  get  even  is  to  forget. — The  Saturday  Evening  Post. 

The  plan  itself  is  characterized  by  its  simplicity,  for 
it  is  merely  the  grouping  of  twelve  boys  under  the 
capable  supervision  of  a  carefully  chosen  adult.  This 
is  the  initial  step  and  the  success  or  failure  of  every- 
thing connected  with  the  scheme  lies  in  this  grouping. 
The  group  meets  once  a  week  for  one  hour,  and  the 
entire  Association  activity  of  each  boy  centers  in  his 
group.  Thus  his  Bible  study  (which  claims  one  half 
of  the  hour),  his  mental  work  (which  lies  in  debate, 
reading  courses,  etc.),  his  physical  activity  (which  by 
a  system  of  intergroup  contests  gets  point  and  pur- 
pose), and  his  social  relationships  (which  grow  nat- 
urally among  his  immediate  chums  with  an  extension 
tendency),  all  are  combined  in  one  homogeneous  whole 
under  the  sympathetic  eye  of  an  adult  friend  and 
teacher.  The  group  is  self-governing,  with  its  own 
elective  officers,  and  the  decisions  of  the  group  are  sub- 
ject only  to  the  veto  of  its  adult  adviser.  The  group 
receives  a  charter  from  the  Governor  of  the  Federated 
Central  States,  the  secretary  for  boys,  and  here  is  the 
beginning  of  the  civic  feature,  which  may  naturally 
be  spoken  of  at  this  point. 

The  Federated  Central  States  is  an  imaginary  com- 
monwealth composed  of  the  three  groups  of  member- 
ship in  the  Boys'  Division  of  the  Central  Branch ;  the 
Grammar  School,  High  School,  and  Employed  Boys. 
The  Governor  is  the  secretary  for  boys  and  his  cabi- 
net is  composed  of  the  Lieutenant-Governor,  the 
assistant  secretary  for  boys,  and  the  three  Solicitors,  or 
Legal  Advisers,  of  the  three  groups  of  membership. 
By  special  charter  and  proclamation  each  of  the  groups 
of  membership  becomes  a  ward  in  the  Central  City, 
each  ward 'having  its  own  Common  Council  for  the 
purpose  of  effective  administration.  The  membership 
of  the  Common  Council  is  then  determined  by  the 
small  groups  of  twelve  boys,  from  which  the  larger 
group  or  ward  has  grown ;  each  group  of  twelve  elect- 
ing two  councilors  to  sit  in  the  Common  Council  of  the 
ward.      Each  of  the  Common  Councils  is  therefore 


178  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Could  we  forbear  dispute,  and  practice  love, 

We  should  agree  as  angels  do  above. — Edmund  Waller. 

charged  with  the  government  and  activities  of  its  own 
group  of  membership,  the  High  School  Common  Coun- 
cil, for  example,  being  responsible  for  both  discipline 
and  Association  activity  for  the  entire  High  School 
group.  The  Councils  have  enough  committees  for  the 
handling  and  discharge  of  their  business,  two  of  them 
dealing  with  discipline.  The  ordinances  of  Councils 
are  approved  or  vetoed  by  the  Solicitors  of  the  Coun- 
cils. 

The  Central  City  is  the  combination  of  the  three 
wards,  Grammar  School,  High  School  and  Employed 
Boys.  The  legislative  branch  of  its  government  is  the 
Select  Council,  made  up  of  seven  Councilors  from  each 
ward,  or  twenty-one  in  all.  The  executive  branch  com- 
prises the  Mayor  and  the  Directors  and  Assistant 
Directors  of  Public  Safety,  Public  Works,  Public  Sup- 
plies and  Public  Health  and  Charities.  These  offices 
afford  a  direct  channel  for  every  phase  of  direct  and 
indirect  Association  work.  The  judicial  branch  is 
represented  by  a  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  a  body  of 
three  judges,  one  from  each  group,  and  the  Supreme 
Court,  which  serves  as  a  Court  of  Appeals,  and  whose 
personnel  is  the  Committee  of  Management.  All  the 
bills  or  ordinances  of  the  Select  Council  are  approved 
or  vetoed  by  the  Mayor.  The  Governor  of  the  Fed- 
erated Central  States  has  the  privilege  of  a  reviewing 
veto. 

Here,  then,  is  the  machinery  for  the  welding  of  civic 
and  Association  activities ;  first,  the  small  group  of 
twelve  boys  with  the  adult  adviser ;  second,  the  larger 
group  Common  Council,  with  its  legal  adviser,  and 
finally  the  divisional  Select  Council  with  its  municipal 
officials.  And  in  it  all  there  is  to  be  noticed  that  the 
small  group  of  twelve  is  the  center  of  the  scheme, 
membership  in  the  group  being  a  registration  of  citi- 
zenship in  the  ward  and  city.  The  work  of  the  Boys' 
Division  of  Central  Branch  is  thus  taken  care  of  and 
supervised  by  the  representatives  of  these  small  groups 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  179 

Count  that  day  lost  whose  low  descending  sun 

Views  from  thy  hand  no  worthy  action  done. — Staniford. 

and  the  civic  activity  is  so  conceived  as  to  place  each 
member  of  the  twelve  in  some  responsible  place  for 
service.  This  arrangement  gives  proper  prestige  to 
the  small  groups  and  assures  the  accomplishment  of 
work  leading  to  a  well-balanced  development  that  is 
worth  while.  Here  a  further  word  may  be  added  on 
these  groups,  their  work  and  aim. 

All  the  groups  in  *the  Grammar  School  section  of 
membership  are  known  as  Chapters  of  the  U  and  I 
Club,  and  the  High  School  and  Employed  Boys'  Chap- 
ters as  the  Topper  Club.  This  insures  the  unity  of 
work  among  the  younger  and  older  boys  without  in- 
sisting on  any  uniformity  of  method.  The  purpose 
of  the  U  and  I  Club  is  to  teach  the  boy  that  he  can 
only  find  his  fullest  expression  in  Christian  service 
with  the  other  boy ;  that  of  the  Topper  Club  is  to  train 
him  for  such  Christian  service.  To  accomplish  this 
end  both  a  selfish  and  an  altruistic  ideal  is  put  before 
the  boy.  The  selfish  comprises  the  winning  of  de- 
grees, which  lift  him  into  an  advanced  rating  among 
his  fellows.  To  attain  to  these  honors  the  lad  must, 
by  personal  application,  do  a  certain  amount  of  isolated 
endeavor,  which  begets  initiative  in  his  character-stuff. 
The  purpose  of  the  degrees  in  the  U  and  I  Chapters 
is  to  acquaint  the  boy  with  the  reality  of  himself,  the 
relationship  and  worth  of  the  other'  fellow,  and  the 
effectiveness  of  the  combination  ("U  and  I")  when 
in  working  harmony  for  an  altruistic  end.  The  de- 
grees of  the  Topper  Club,  through  a  test  system,  aim 
to  build  the  boy  physically,  mentally,  spiritually  and 
socially  at  the  points  where  he  evidences  weakness,  and 
so  to  round  him  out  into  a  symmetrical  manhood  whose 
motto  is  service.  The  requirements  and  tests  leading 
to  the  degrees  must  be  suggested  by  the  study  of  the 
boy,  and  it  is  here  that  the  wisdom  of  the  adult  adviser 
displays  itself.  The  workableness  of  the  plan  can  also 
be  measured  by  the  ability  of  the  leader  to  develop 
sane  requirements  and  tests,  hence  no  specific  instances 


180  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

The  blind  man's  dog  despises  the  frivolity  of  other  dogs. — The  Satur- 
day Evening  Post. 

are  cited  here,  although  the  speaker  has  a  list  of  several 
hundreds. 

The  value  of  the  entire  scheme  is  simply  that  it 
affords  a  normal  means  of  holding  a  boy  long  enough 
to  see  and  help  his  character  grow,  and  an  opportunity 
to  help  him  become  a  master  workman  where  moral 
leadership  is  needed  among  his  fellows.  It  bridges 
over  also  the  yawning  chasm  that  stretches  geographic- 
ally between  boyhood  and  manhood,  and  trains  the 
dawning  man  to  adaptation  to  his  community  life,  and 
a  high  moral  desire  to  better  it  through  his  personal 
effort.  The  altruistic  aim  of  the  chapters  points  the 
way  to  this  everlastingly;  for  the  boy,  through  his 
communal  club  life,  and  activity  in  his  group,  ward 
and  city,  is  continuously  confronted  with  the  slogan, 
"For  the  honor  of  the  Club."  With  such  an  aim  and 
the  counsel  of  an  adult  of  virile,  Christian  personality 
as  his  companion,  the  boy  advances  from  a  limited  to 
an  ever  increasing  sphere,  until  he  finds  himself  a  force 
that  commands  respect  by  that  egoism  that  generally 
is  embraced  under  the  term  man.  The  logic  of  the 
plan  appeals.  There  is  awakened  a  loyalty  to  the 
gang,  the  group,  the  ward,  the  city,  the  state,  and  God, 
for  the  effort  of  the  scheme  is  but  another  spelling  for 
moral  and  religious  education. — John  L.  Alexander, 
Managing  Secretary,  Boy  Scouts  of  America;  for- 
merly of  Philadelphia  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Central  Branch. 


217.     CAMERA  CLUB— 1 

The  follozving  article,  written  by  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  our  Camera  Club,  illustrates  what  can  be 
done  when  a  man  of  strong  character  is  willing  to  de- 
vote himself  and  part  of  his  leisure  time  to  a  group  of 
boys.  Mr.  Irving  G.  McColl,  the  leader  of  this  club, 
is  a  young  business  man  of  college  training,  who  for 
four  years  has  been  like  an  older  brother  to  these  boys 
and  has  led  and  trained  them,  not  only  in  all  the  ins 


182  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Don't  put  too  fine  a  point  upon  your  wit  for  fear  it  should  get 
blunted. — Cervantes. 

and  outs  of  photographic  art,  but  in  those  qualities  of 
character  that  make  strong  and  useful  lives. 

One  sultry  night  in  June,  1903,  four  fellows  and  a 
leader  gathered  to  form  a  camera  club.  A  club  run  by 
the  boys  themselves,  which  for  four  long  years  has 
withstood  the  heat  of  summer  and  the  cold  of  winter, 
must  have  had  something  more  behind  it  than  a  mere 
passive  interest  in  the  subject  in  hand.     Let  us  see. 

At  West  Side,  as  is  the  case  in  nearly  every  Associa- 
tion, there  had  always  been  some  fellows  more  or  less 
interested  in  photography,  who  occasionally  "took 
pictures"  for  their  own  amusement,  but  it  was  not 
until  our  leader  and  organizer  conceived  the  idea  of  a 
camera  club  that  any  attempt  was  made  at  the  organi- 
zation of  camera  work.  The  early  days  of  summer, 
when  every  fellow's  thoughts  turn  to  things  out-of- 
doors,  perhaps  may  not  be  the  best  time  for  the  form- 
ing of  a  club  which  necessarily  means  the  holding  of 
some  indoor  sessions,  but  in  spite  of  this  the  club's 
membership,  which  after  the  first  few  weeks  had 
grown  to  seven,  had  back  of  it  the  enthusiasm  that  is 
so  indispensable  to  the  success  of  any  project. 

During  the  summer  a  number  of  the  members  and 
the  leader  went  to  Camp  Dudley  where  the  practical 
side  of  the  club's  ability  was  brought  into  play.  Camp 
pictures  were  made  and  sold  to  the  other  campers,  and 
such  success  attended  these  efforts  that  about  $25 
profit  was  netted  for  the  treasury.  The  fellows  who 
did  not  go  to  camp  employed  their  energies  in  connec- 
tion with  the  shorter  Association  outings  and  made 
many  good  pictures. 

With  the  coming  of  autumn,  the  business  meetings 
of  the  club,  which  had  in  a  measure  been  dispensed 
with  during  the  summer,  were  resumed.  The  fellows 
now  gave  some  attention  to  adopting  a  constitution  and 
by-laws.  Various  subcommittees  had  to  be  appointed 
for  this  important  work,  and  many  points  had  to  be 
discussed  numberless  times  before  the  constitution  was 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  183 

A  penny  saved  is  an  example  to  the  other  ninety-nine  cents. — The 
Saturday   Evening   Post. 

an  established  fact.  To  show  how  well  this  work  was 
accomplished  it  might  be  mentioned  that  in  all  the 
club's  existence  practically  no  change  has  been  made 
in  either  the  constitution  or  by-laws. 

By  the  constitution,  the  membership  was  limited  to 
ten  fellows  and  a  waiting  list  of  five,  and  the  three 
members  necessary  to  complete  the  full  number  were 
admitted  in  September,  1903.  The  active  member- 
ship was  limited  to  ten  because  the  very  nature  of  the 
project  precluded  the  idea  of  a  large  group  which  it 
would  be  impossible  to  accommodate,  and  this  would 
mean  that  the  interest  taken  by  some  of  the  fellows 
would  not  be  active.  What  was  wanted  was  a  band  of 
workers  who  could  be  depended  upon. 

During  the  first  year  the  waiting  list  was  trans- 
formed into  a  beginner's  class,  in  which,  on  a  separate 
night  from  the  regular  club  meeting,  the  leader  gave 
careful  instruction  preparing  the  candidates  for  active 
membership  when  it  came  their  turn  to  be  admitted  as 
full-fledged  members.  This  instruction  was  necessary, 
for  before  a  candidate  was  admitted  to  the  club 
proper  he  had  to  pass  a  rigid  examination  prepared  by 
the  members  themselves,  and  one  may  be  sure  that 
when  the  fellows  themselves  prepare  questions  these 
are  not  chosen  for  their  simplicity. 

In  September  of  this  year  the  club  held  its  first  exhi- 
bition in  conjunction  with  a  camera  work  exhibition 
of  the  men's  department,  and  our  display  evoked  much 
favorable  comment. 

About  this  time,  also,  further  attention  was  given  to 
business  organization.  The  year  was  divided  into  two 
periods,  May  to  October,  and  November  to  April,  in- 
clusive. The  election  of  officers  was  fixed  at  the  begin- 
ning of  each  of  these  periods.  The  first  Monday  of 
each  month  was  selected  for  a  business  meeting,  the 
other  Monday  nights  being  given  to  practical  work. 
It  was  decided  that  no  meetings  would  be  held  between 
June  15  and  September  15.    This  ruling,  however,  was 


184  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Attempt  the   end,   and   never  stand   to   doubt; 
Nothing  so  hard  but  search  will  find   it  out. — Herrick. 

never  interpreted  to  mean  that  activities  in  the  photo- 
graphic line  were  to  be  suspended  for  this  period. 

Christmas  week  of  1903  was  the  occasion  for  the 
first  exhibition  by  the  club  of  work  accomplished  along 
a  special  line.  Portrait  study  was  the  subject  chosen, 
and  prizes  of  photographic  apparatus  ranging  in  value 
from  $10  for  the  first  to  $1.50  for  the  seventh  went 
to  the  fortunate  contestants. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  first  year  changes  in  mem- 
bership made  it  possible  to  admit  two  fellows  from  the 
full  waiting  list  to  active  membership.  The  entrance 
examination  was  then  and  has  always  been  a  very 
serious  and  practical  affair,  but  now  a  new  feature  was 
introduced.  The  examination  has  always  meant  a  lot 
of  hard  work  on  the  part  of  all  concerned;  for  the 
examiners,  that  they  may  fully  fathom  the  candidate's 
knowledge  of  the  subject  in  hand,  and  on  the  part  of 
candidate,  to  demonstrate  his  ability;  so  the  passing  of 
the  test  is  always  just  cause  for  mutual  rejoicing. 
This  led  to  the  adoption  of  an  initiation  ceremony  to 
follow  the  examination.  Not  only  does  this  relieve  the 
tension  of  the  candidate's  feelings  but  it  furnishes 
amusement  for  all,  and  it  also  tests  the  candidate's  self- 
control,  adaptability  to  new  conditions  and  his  good 
fellowship.  Refreshments  always  follow  initiations,  to 
top  off  the  evening's  fun. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  club  of  standing  that 
has  not  adopted  for  itself  some  particular  insignia,  so 
it  is  not  surprising  that  our  members  can  be  distin- 
guished from  the  four  hundred  other  members  of  the 
department,  by  the  pin  worn  on  the  coat  lapel.  They 
also  provided  neat  club  stationery  for  the  use  of  mem- 
bers in  their  personal  club  correspondence. 

All  this  time  most  of  the  fellows  had  been  steadily 
engaged  in  filling  orders  for  pictures  taken  around  the 
Association  building,  or  for  work  done  for  friends  out- 
side the  branch,  so  that  at  the  end  of  the  year  the  club's 
finances  were  in  a  good  condition.     During  the  first 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  185 

Errors  like  straws  upon  the  surface  flow; 

He  who  would  search  for  pearls  must  dive  below. — Dryden. 

year  about  $65  was  earned  for  the  treasury,  part  of 
which  was  given  to  the  systematic-giving  committee. 
Now  a  banquet  was  given  to  which  were  invited  wait- 
ing list  members,  possible  recruits  and  adult  friends. 
This  method  of  closing  the  season's  work  has  since  be- 
come the  established  custom.  Other  dinners  are  given 
on  special  occasions,  the  most  recent  one  in  honor  of 
the  club's  president  on  his  departure  for  a  new  home  in 
California. 

About  this  time,  the  second  year  in  the  history  of  the 
club,  the  executive  committee  of  the  branch,  being  con- 
vinced that  the  Camera  Club  really  could  be  depended 
upon  to  ''make  good,"  turned  over  to  it  the  work  of 
decorating  the  wTalls  of  the  boys'  social  room.  To  fur- 
ther encourage  our  work,  the  branch  donated  a  power- 
ful arc  electric  lamp  for  an  enlarging  camera,  and  also 
partitioned  off  the  end  of  a  dark  hallway  to  be  used  as 
a  dark  room.  The  enlarging  camera  was  constructed 
by  the  fellows  themselves,  demonstrating  that  mechani- 
cal genius  was  not  lacking  among  us. 

That  the  club  "made  good"  is  shown  by  the  pictures 
now  hanging  in  a  corner  of  the  boys'  social  room, 
known  as  the  "green  room."  Not  only  were  all  these 
twenty-five  or  thirty  photographs  and  enlargements 
made  by  the  fellows,  but  also  all  the  labor  incidental  to 
the  framing,  from  the  buying  of  the  rough  moulding  to 
the  cutting  of  the  glass,  was  done  without  outside  aid. 
Not  only  this,  but  the  hanging,  too,  was  done  to  test 
artistic  ability  in  interior  decorating. 

Once  or  twice  every  year  exhibitions  have  been  held, 
for  honors.  For  instance,  in  May,  1905,  there  was 
a  landscape  exhibition,  the  pictures  receiving  the 
awards  being  deemed  worthy  of  being  enlarged  and 
placed  permanently  on  the  walls  of  the  boys'  rooms.^ 

Of  course  by  this  time  the  older  members  were  quite 
beyond  the  elementary  stages  of  photography,  and  in- 
tensifying, reducing  and  retouching  negatives,  brush 
development    of    platinum,    coloring    photos,    making 


186  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

We  may  not  win  the  baton  or  epaulettes;    but  God  gives  us  strength 
to  guard  the  honour  of  the  flag. — Thackeray. 

"gum"  prints  and  lantern  slides  were  not  unfamiliar 
features  of  the  work. 

During  1906,  our  boys'  department  secured  a  spa- 
cious billiard  and  pool  room  adjoining  the  "green 
room,"  and  here  another  opportunity  was  presented 
for  the  club  to  manifest  its  ability  in  the  line  of  deco- 
rating. The  views  of  this  room,  which  is  called  the 
"red  room,"  will  show  that  the  fellows  here  eclipsed 
all  their  previous  efforts.  The  fact  that  care  is  taken 
never  to  omit  showing  this  room  to  visitors,  is  sufficient 
evidence  of  how  the  club's  work  is  appreciated. 

This  room  contains  over  160  photos,  being  the  club's 
fourth  annual  mid-year  exhibition,  yet  by  their  ar- 
rangement they  do  not  give  the  impression  of  being 
crowded.  Besides  following  the  universal  custom  of 
hanging  the  framed  enlargements  from  the  picture 
moulding  of  the  room,  a  special  screen,  two  feet  wTide, 
covered  with  green  cartridge  paper,  was  nailed  perma- 
nently to  the  red  kalsomined  wall  all  around  the  room 
above  the  wainscot  moulding,  furnishing  a  background 
suitable  for  the  smaller  pictures.  These  small  photos 
are  mostly  unmounted  prints  under  loose  glass  which 
is  held  in  place  by  upholsterer's  nails. 

Although  the  purpose  of  the  club  primarily  is  the 
stimulation  and  furtherance  of  interest  in  the  photo- 
graphic art,  we  have  not  confined  ourselves  exclusively 
to  this  one  object.  "Over  Sunday"  camps,  to  which 
other  members  of  the  branch  have  been  invited,  have 
been  run  by  the  members  of  the  Camera  Club.  When 
the  athletic  committee  of  the  Association  holds  its 
spring  meet  each  year,  the  Camera  Club  fellows  come 
to  the  front  loyally.  The  systematic  giving  committee 
of  the  department  has  been  greatly  aided  by  the  contri- 
butions from  the  treasury  of  the  Camera  Club. 

No  one  at  West  Side  has  forgotten  the  part  taken  by 
the  club  in  the  annual  minstrel  show  of  the  branch. 
At  this  show,  the  club  was  transformed  for  the  time 
being  into  a  dramatic  society,  producing  a  sketch  of 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS 


187 


The   trouble   with   an   elastic   conscience   is   that   it   is   apt   to    fly   back 
and  sting  you. — The  Saturday  Evening   Post. 

its  own  making,  called  "Teddius  Caesar  XXIII."  This 
production  was  a  modernized  version  of  Shakes- 
peare's masterpiece,  and  made  quite  a  hit. 

It  would  not  be  amiss  to  term  the  club  a  fraternity. 
That  "It's  always  fair  weather  when  good  fellows  get 
together,"  is  not  inappropriate  here,  and  the  friend- 
ships formed  by  the  fellows  while  working  together  in 
the  interests  of  the  club  will  last  much  longer  than  their 
Camera  Club  days. 

Every  fellow  who  at  any  time  has  had  the  honor  to 
be  a  member  of  the  now  famous  West  Side  Boys' 
Camera  Club,  may  justly  feel  proud  of  the  part  he  had 
in  the  accomplishment  of  the  club's  purpose,  which  has 
in  no  small  measure  added  to  the  glory  and  fame  of  old 
West  Side- — William  A.  Weber,  in  Association  Boys, 
Vol  VI.,  No.  4. 


Flag  Raising  at  Camp  Dudley 


218.     CAMERA  CLUB— 2 

Popular  and  fascinating  as  amateur  photography  is, 
it  is  not  easy  to  hold  the  interest  of  older  fellows  in  a 
Camera  Club,  and  at  the  same  time  make  the  work 
educative.     A  group  of  boys  who  use  their  cameras 


188  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

He  had  no  place  for  bitterness  in  his  heart,  and  no  scheme  but 
kindness. — Thackeray. 

occasionally,  and  other  so-called  "friends,"  who  have 
come  together  just  to  have  a  gcod  time  and  once  in  a 
while  "snap"  something,  will  never  make  a  successful 
camera  club.  Photography  has  become  an  art,  and 
there  is  much  to  learn  in  connection  with  it.  The  club 
must  be  educative  as  well  as  recreative.  That  these 
two  phases  may  run  hand  in  hand  the  membership 
of  the  club  should  not  exceed  twenty  (less  is  better), 
and  there  should  not  be  a  great  disparity  in  ages,  fif- 
teen to  eighteen  years  is  desirable.  Let  the  few  en- 
thusiastic ones  talk  and  work  the  matter  up,  and  then 
organize,  starting  with  only  those  fellows  as  members 
who  are  really  using  a  camera,  and  are  interested  in 
photography  as  an  art,  and  not  as  a  pastime. 

Adopt  a  policy  which  aims  high  and  includes  some 
work  that  will  benefit  the  whole  department.  Secure 
an  adult  adviser  who  will  map  out  a  course  of  study 
and  experiment,  and  take  the  fellows,  preferably  a 
half  dozen  at  a  time,  on  short  trips  not  only  to  enjoy 
and  photograph  nature,  but  to  make  a  study  of  light, 
temperature,  etc.,  and  their  effect  upon  picture  taking. 
Room  should  be  secured  in  the  Association  building 
where  developing  and  printing  can  be  done ;  and  here 
lectures  and  demonstrations  concerning  the  various 
cameras,  papers  and  chemicals  should  be  carried  on. 
There  will  be  some  drudgery,  and  this  should  be  more 
than  offset  by  enthusiasm.  The  exposures  gotten  by 
the  fellows  should  be  developed  and  printed  before  the 
club  and  the  spirit  of  contest  stimulated. 

A  concrete  example :  In  Springfield,  Mass.,  last  fall 
fifteen  boys  between  fourteen  and  seventeen  years  of 
age  organized  the  Snap  Shot  Club.  Their  object  was 
the  study  of  elementary  photography,  and  they  agreed, 
after  paying  an  initiation  fee  of  twenty-five  cents  to 
cover  some  expenses,  to  meet  every  other  Friday  even- 
ing in  a  club  room  which  they  fixed  up  for  their  own 
use — a  spare  room  in  the  building.  A  member  of  the 
senior  Camera  Club  who  knew  his  business  was  secured 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  189 

An  ounce  of  tomorrow  is  worth  a  pound  of  yesterday. — The   Saturday 
Evening    Post. 

as  adviser,  and  the  developing  rooms  of  that  club  were 
used  upon  that  evening.  During  the  winter  a  study 
was  made  of  the  camera,  the  enlarging  machine  and 
the  making  of  stereopticon  slides,  besides  demonstra- 
tions of  different  papers  and  chemicals.  At  the  next 
indoor  meeting  the  exposures  gotten  upon  a  trip  were 
developed  and  results  compared.  A  scrapbook  was 
used  to  contain  the  best  results.  Some  of  these  results 
were  enlarged  to  show  the  process.  When  camp  re- 
union time  came  on,  in  the  late  spring,  the  club  made 
seventy-five  lantern  slides  of  camp  scenes,  aided  by 
the  instructor,  and  these  were  shown  at  the  camp  re- 
union. Some  of  the  club  attended  the  summer  camp 
and  secured  nearly  a  hundred  views.  A  complete  set 
with  negatives  was  turned  over  to  the  boys'  depart- 
ment. One  set  has  helped  to  decorate  the  club  room ; 
another  set,  the  club  will  put  in  a  book,  which  will  be 
used  to  advertise  next  summer's  camp,  along  with  new 
lantern  slides.  Thus  they  have  helped  the  whole  de- 
partment, gained  a  working  knowledge  of  photography 
and  had  jolly  times  together. — Association  Boys,  Vol. 
III.,  No.  6. 


219.     CAMERA  CLUB  EXHIBITION 

In  Coatesville,  Pa.,  much  is  made  of  an  exhibition 
by  the  Camera  Club  and  a  calendar  exhibit  on  New 
Year's  Dav. 


220.     AGRICULTURAL  CLUB 

When  the  fine  spring  days  roll  around,  the  average 
lively  boy  who  has  enough  life  in  him  to  do  things, 
finds  it  hard  to  stay  indoors.  All  nature  seems  to  draw 
him  out  and  away  from  the  Association  rooms.  There 
is  a  noticeable  dropping  off  in  the  number  of  boys  who 
frequent  headquarters,  and  almost  every  boys'  secre- 


190  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

It  is  well  to  put  off  until  tomorrow  what  you  ought  not  to  do  at  all. 
— The   Saturday   Evening   Post. 

tary  begins  to  rack  his  brains  to  find  something  to  in- 
terest them. 

Have  you  thought  of  a  garden  or  agricultural  club 
for  the  boys  ?  Why  not  meet  their  desires  by  respond- 
ing to  the  attractive  and  stimulating  beckonings  of 
nature?  Why  should  not  the  boys  be  interested  and 
at  work  in  something  that  is  serious  and  which,  in  ad- 
dition, has  a  very  large  element  of  pleasure  in  it?  It 
would  be  a  great  boon  to  the  boys,  especially  the  city 


A  Group  of  Grangers 

''chaps,"  to  raise  garden  truck  and  see  how  it  is  done. 
Why  not  give  the  garden  club  or  agricultural  club  a 
good  trial?  It  may  be  found  so  successful  that  you 
will  decide  to  make  it  a  permanent  feature  of  educa- 
tional work  for  boys. 

The  Value  Estimate.  An  enthusiast  has  said, 
"Gardens  do  more  than  train  the  hands  and  head ;  they 
touch  and  awaken  the  soul ; — and  this  is  the  first  mis- 
sion of  gardening." 

Intellectually,  the  garden  gives  the  benefits  of  man- 
ual training  and  offers  opportunities  for  putting  into 
practice  many  of  the  abstract  lessons  of  the  class- 
room. 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  191 

An  ounce  of  cheerfulness  is  worth  a  pound  of  sadness  to   serve   God 
with. — Fuller. 

Among  other  things,  the  work  of  agricultural  clubs 
disposes  boys  favorably  toward  manual  labor;  they 
offer  a  certain  kind  of  work  which  is  supplementary  to 
a  good  deal  of  the  training  they  obtain  in  school ;  they 
give  the  boys  something  definite  to  do  in  their  leisure 
time  and  keep  them  off  the  streets;  and  most  impor- 
tant of  all,  they  give  youth  an  insight  into  agricultural 
knowledge,  leading  them  to  consider  farming  and  the 
cultivation  of  the  soil  more  seriously. 

The  garden  idea  is  by  no  means  a  new  one.  Twenty 
centuries  ago  Persian  boys  received  practical  and  theo- 
retical instruction  in  horticulture.  Through  the 
Middle  Ages  the  garden  for  educational  purposes  was 
conducted  throughout  Central  Europe,  and  at  the  pres- 
ent day  gardens  are  numerous  in  France,  Germany, 
Sweden  and  in  England,  Switzerland,  Austria  and 
Italy.  The  idea  was  introduced  into  this  country  about 
1890  and  has  been  so  carefully  developed  since  then 
that  such  work  is  now  in  successful  operation  under 
various  conditions  and  auspices  in  both  large  and  small 
cities. 

The  question  as  to  whether  boys  can  be  interested  in 
the  project  has  been  answered  in  many  instances.  One 
authority  says,  "The  pupils  take  great  interest  in  their 
gardens,  standing  off  and  admiring  their  own  plants 
and  comparing  them  with  others."  The  conductor  of 
the  garden  at  Yohkers,  N.  Y.,  reports,  "The  interest, 
far  from  diminishing,  has  increased  and  500  applica- 
tions were  made  for  the  250  plots  in  1905." 

Here  is  another  real  opportunity  to  help  boys  which 
the  Association  has  thus  far  not  cultivated,  but  in 
which  it  has  unlimited  scope  and  usefulness.  This  is 
a  psychological  moment  for  the  promotion  of  this 
work.  It  is  the  year  and  the  time  of  the  year.  The 
preliminary  work  has  been  well  done  in  various  places. 
Professional  and  public  attention  is  receptive. 

Some  Things  to  Consider.  Here  are  some  general 
principles  on  which  people  agree  in  conducting  such  a 


192  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Trouble  knocked  at  the  door,  but,  hearing  a  laugh  within,  hurried 
away. — The  Saturday  Evening  Post. 

piece  of  work.  In  the  first  place,  it  is  quite  necessary 
to  adapt  means  to  help  boys  in  developing  their  char- 
acteristics. Boys  are  interested  in  some  things  rather 
than  other  things  because  of  definite  reasons  peculiarly 
related  to  the  boy. 

Boys  like  to  do  definite  things;  they  like  to  make 
things  which  they  can  see  developing  under  their 
hands;  they  enjoy  exhibiting  what  they  do  or  make, 
and  above  all  things  they  like  competition;  notoriety 
and  public  attention  give  them  a  considerable  amount 
of  satisfaction ;  because  they  are  boys,  they  prefer  be- 
ing out  of  doors  rather  than  being  housed  up  under 
cover;  finally,  a  combination  of  work  and  play  is 
always  welcome  in  whatever  they  are  interested. 
These  are  some  of  the  principles  upon  which  to  pro- 
ceed in  handling  boys. 

As  to  the  application  of  these  principles  to  the  agri- 
cultural club  and  to  the  garden,  experience  shows  that 
in  the  larger  cities  the  grammar  school  boys  will  be 
interested,  while  in  the  smaller  places  older  boys  will 
take  hold  of  the  idea.  In  the  Middle  West,  where  the 
corn-raising  campaigns  have  become  very  popular,  the 
older  boys  have  taken  it  up  enthusiastically.  Expe- 
rience also  proves  that  the  boys  prefer  to  work  in 
groups.  The  "gang"  spirit  carries  them  a  long  way  in 
both  work  and  play.  The  sympathy  of  the  public  will 
be  enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  boys  as  soon  as  it  is  seen 
that  they  are  trying  to  do  something  worth  while. 
There  is  no  more  certain  way  to  interest  the  parents 
than  through  the  boys.  They  are  fountains  of  un- 
bounded enthusiasm  and  lasting  interest.  In  turn  the 
parents  become  greatly  interested  and  consequently  the 
result  is  wholesome  and  helpful  to  everybody.  This 
is  where  the  Association  can  tie  up  closely  with  the 
parents- 

A  Plan  of  Operating.  The  following  are  some 
suggestions  for  organizing  such  work  based  on  the 
experience  of  those  who  have  been  successful : 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  193 

Humanity  and  social  sympathy  are  the  glory  of  our  age. — Newell 
Dwight  Hillis. 

1.  With  the  help  of  the  boys  themselves,  secure  a 
lot  or  piece  of  vacant  ground  sufficiently  large.  The 
interest  of  members  of  the  city  improvement  society, 
if  there  is  one,  may  be  aroused.  The  use  of  a  lot  may 
be  obtained  from  an  owner  who  wishes  to  see  the  value 
of  his  property  increased. 

2.  Decide  upon  a  definite  day,  appropriate  with 
the  climate  and  conditions,  for  cleaning  up,  fertilizing 
and  plowing  time.  This  should  be  made  a  special 
occasion. 

3.  Divide  the  space  into  small  "farms"  or  plots 
large  enough  to  meet  conditions  and  allot  these  to  the 
boys,  leaving  them  to  put  the  plots  in  shape. 

4.  Lay  out  paths  and  provide  for  fencing. 

5-  An  organization  can  possibly  be  formed  with 
the  government  idea  introduced — with  a  mayor,  chief 
of  police,  overseer  of  highways,  and  any  other  neces- 
sary officials.  There  may  be  a  change  of  officials  two 
or  three  times  during  the  season. 

6.  "Planting  day"  should  be  observed  in  a  busi- 
ness-like way  under  the  supervision  of  a  capable  man. 

7.  Each  boy  should  keep  a  record  of  his  work  in 
which  he  notes  his  observations. 

8.  Raise  one,  or  possibly  two,  crops  during  the 
season,  changing  the  same. 

9.  The  small  garden  truck  may  be  marketed  by  the 
boys  individually  or  by  an  appointed  "selling  agent." 

10.  Introduce  competition  for  good  prizes  prefer- 
ably offered  by  some  civic  organization  for  the  appear- 
ance of  the  "farms"  and  the  quality  and  quantity  of 
the  products. 

Additional  Suggestions.  In  putting  this  new 
work  into  operation  it  will  be  wise  to  secure  the  in- 
telligent interest,  consent  and  cooperation  of  the  board 
of  directors  and  educational  committee.  A  great  deal 
will  depend  upon  this.  The  general  secretary,  educa- 
tional director  and  the  special  leader  or  teacher  of  the 
club,  group  or  class,   should  cooperate  in  developing 


194  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Few  men  are  as  lucky  as  they  seem,  or  as  unlucky  as  they  think  they 
are. — The   Saturday   Evening    Post. 

the  idea,  the  educational  director  or  committee  being 
primarily  responsible  for  its  initiation. 

In  this  the  local  Association  has  a  large  opportunity 
for  broadening  its  work  for  the  ultimate  good  of  the 
community.  One  of  the  things  to  be  done  then  is  en- 
listing the  interest  of  members  of  the  local  city  im- 
provement society  or  civic  club,  of  business  houses, 
various  firms,  and  leading  citizens  of  the  community. 

Whatever  expense  may  be  attached  may  be  covered 
in  various  ways.  Boys  working  in  relays  would  not 
need  many  tools.  The  sale  of  "truck"  should  meet 
some,  if  not  all,  of  the  outlay.  Aside  from  this,  ex- 
penses should  be  provided  for,  part  from  the  Associa- 
tion treasury,  part  from  tuition  fees,  and  some  from 
admission  fees  to  the  final  exhibition  of  the  products. 

By  all  means  secure  the  very  best  quality  of  seeds. 
It  would  be  very  unfortunate  to  sacrifice  the  possi- 
bility of  success  by  using  old,  poorly  mixed,  or  other- 
wise worthless  seeds. 

A  course  of  simple,  interesting  talks  on  seeds,  soil, 
tools,  garden  products,  etc.,  should  run  twice  a  week 
for  a  month  previous  to  the  actual  garden  work.  At 
the  same  time  there  would  be  an  opportunity  for  using 
a  hotbed  in  which  the  principles  of  sunlight  and  heat 
could  be  shown  in  a  most  interesting  manner. 

At  the  completion  of  the  summer  work  and  for  a 
good  "windup"  the  county  fair  idea  might  be  carried 
out  in  a  display  of  products,  pet  animals,  and  various 
things  made  or  built  by  the  boys  during  their  vacation. 

Each  locality  has  its  own  peculiarities,  so  the  above 
suggestions  may  be  adapted  to  meet  varying  condi- 
tions. 

The  following  are  some  publications  which  suggest 
ideas:  Periodicals — Junior  Naturalist,  Gardening, 
Country  Life  in  America,  Journal  of  Education,  Asso- 
ciation Boys  (especially  April  and  December  num- 
bers, 190G).  Books — Hemenway,  How  to  Make 
School  Gardens,  Doubleday,  Page  &  Co. ;  Agriculture 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  195 

It  doesn't  cost  anything  to  say  "Good  morning,"  even  if  it's  raining. 
— Anon. 

for  Beginners,  Burkett,  Ginn  &  Co. ;  Practical  Agricul- 
ture, James,  Appleton ;  Gardenmaking,  Principles  of 
Vegetable  Gardening,  Bailey,  Macmillan ;  Methods  of 
Instruction  in  Agriculture,  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Education ; 
Hints  and  Helps  for  Young  Gardeners,  Hemenway, 
Hartford. — Robert  T.  Hill,  Secretary  of  International 
Committee,  in  Association  Boys,  Vol.  VI. ,  No.  I. 

221.     CANCJE  CLUB 

A  class  in  canoe  building  for  boys  is  not  only  practi- 
cable, but  is  easily  within  the  reach  of  almost  every 
Association.  The  knowledge  that  any  boy  of  average 
intelligence,  old  enough  to  be  in  the  Association,  can 
himself  build  a  well-modeled  and  thoroughly  reliable 
canoe  at  a  cost  under  $5  is  incentive  enough  for 
some  boys'  departments  to  try  the  experiment  this 
article  suggests. 

Such  a  class  has  been  in  operation  in  the  Associa- 
tion at  Summit,  N.  J.,  for  over  a  year,  during  which 
time  several  canoes  have  been  built.  The  illustration 
shows  one  of  these  canoes  receiving  the  finishing 
touches,  and  gives  a  good  general  idea  of  those  con- 
structed. 

For  a  workshop  almost  any  room  will  do.  We  use 
a  part  of  the  cellar.  For  equipment  little  is  needed 
but  a  few  tools  of  such  kind  as  are  usually  found  in 
the  janitor's  quarters.  A  carpenter's  bench  is  a  good 
thing  if  you  can  get  one.  Our  boys  made  their  own 
as  well  as  the  horses  upon  which  the  frame  was  set 
up.  We  have  found  it  best  to  have  the  boys  work  in 
pairs,  sharing  the  expense  and  labor.  If  you  can  get 
some  one  with  a  knowledge  of  the  use  of  tools  to  give 
the  boys  a  little  instruction  so  much  the  better,  but 
many  boys  will  turn  out  a  very  creditable  piece  of  work 
without  such  help. 

The  dimensions  of  the  canoes  our  boys  have  made 
are :  length,  14  feet ;  beam,  30  inches ;  depth  amidships, 
12  inches ;  depth  at  ends,  20  inches. 


196 


SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 


Standing  behind  a  counter  is  all  right,  but  staying  there  a  lifetime  is 
another  matter. — The  Saturday   Evening  Post. 

Now  to  work :  first  lay  your  keelson,  which  is  a  piece 
of  board  J4>  inch  by  1%  inches  by  13  feet  4  inches. 
To  each  end  fit  stem  and  stern  posts,  screwing  and 
bracing  them  as  shown  in  figure  I. 

Now  take  a  one-inch  board  12  inches  wide  and  30 
inches  long  and  cut  to  the  shape  given  in  figure  II. 
This  board  is  to  be  fitted  over  the  center  of  the  keelson 
at  x.  It  should  be  well  braced,  but  so  adjusted  that 
it  can  easily  be  removed  when  the  canoe  is  finished. 


Canoe  Building 


We  are  now  ready  for  the  longitudinal  strips  or 
rib-bands.  These  should  be  %  inch  by  1  inch  by  16 
feet  long  and  of  cedar  or  spruce  with  clean  straight 
grain.  Sixteen  of  these  will  be  required,  eight  on 
each  side.  Begin  with  the  upper  strips,  tacking  lightly 
to  side  of  cross  piece  and  drawing  in  to  stem  and 
stern  posts,  to  which  they  must  be  fastened.  Take 
care  to  get  the  bend  or  curve  equal  on  both  sides,  con- 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS 


197 


Laughing    cheerfulness    throws    sunlight    on    all    the    paths    of    life. — 
Richter. 

tinue  this  all  the  way  round,  spacing  each  equally. 
Now  take  four  pieces  of  hard  wood  y^  inch  by  y2  inch 
(a  child's  hoop  is  just  the  thing)  and  bend  from  upper 
end  of  stern  and  stem  posts  to  top  of  upper  rib-band. 


pajaBaaagmnBaagaaggaa 


r 


.»* 


IEE3 


Canoe  Models 


This  will  give  the  graceful  curve  to  the  end  of  the 
canoe  as  shown  in  figure  III.  We  are  now  ready  for 
the  ribs,  which  are  ordinary  barrel  hoops.  They 
should  be  nicely  cleaned  with  a  spokeshave  and  worked 
to  a  uniform  width.     They  should  be  well  soaked  in 


198  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Formerly  it  was,  Be  good!  Now  it  is,  Make  good! — The  Saturday 
Evening  Post. 

water,  and  to  make  them  still  more  pliable  boiling 
water  should  be  poured  over  them  just  before  they 
are  bent  to  the  rib-bands.  Begin  putting  in  the  ribs 
near  the  center  and  work  toward  each  end  alternately ; 
pass  them  under  the  keelson  and  commence  to  fasten 
first  to  the  lowest  strip,  nailing  with  copper  tacks, 
which  should  be  driven  from  the  outside  and  long 
enough  to  clinch  on  the  inside ;  put  the  ribs  about  five 
inches  apart. 

Next  comes  the  canvas,  which  requires  considerable 
care  in  putting  on.  Stitch  together  lengthways  two 
pieces  of  thirty-inch  heavy  duck,  each  five  yards  long. 
Turn  the  canoe  bottom  up  and  place  the  canvas  upon 
it  with  seam  over  keelson.  If  the  rib-bands  do  not 
come  together  over  the  keelson  fit  in  a  piece  of  wood  to 
make  it  solid.  Tack  well  along  the  seam  to  the  full 
length  of  the  canoe  until  you  reach  the  curve,  now 
begin  in  the  middle  again  and  stretch  tightly  and  nail 
the  outer  edge  along  the  gunwale,  keeping  out  all 
wrinkles.  Take  up  the  slack  at  each  end  by  working 
in  and  overlapping  on  the  rounded  stem  and  stern 
posts.  The  seam  will  be  covered  with  an  outer  keel 
of  wood  }i  inch  square,  screwed  firmly  in  place.  This 
will  continue  round  the  ends,  where  it  will  be  tapered 
to  conform  to  the  shape  of  the  canoe.  Separate  pieces 
of  hard  wood  will  be  used  for  ends  and  bent  to  shape. 
Finish  off  the  gunwale  with  strips  of  wood  on  outer, 
inner  and  upper  edge,  the  inner  strip  joining  the  piece 
that  forms  the  decked-in  place  at  each  end.  You  will 
need  a  removable  lattice  floor  for  the  bottom  of  the 
canoe  to  protect  the  canvas.  This  can  be  in  two  pieces 
and  of  height  of  keelson  fitting  along  either  side  of  it. 
Two  braces  or  thwarts  will  be  needed  to  give  the 
required  stiffness  and  to  keep  the  shape.  These  will 
be  fitted  across  the  inside  from  gunwale  to  gunwale 
about  four  feet  from  each  end. 

Now  for  the  paint:  Give  two  good  coats  of  oil  and 
lead  of  whatever  color  you  choose,  but  only  to  the 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  199 

Pleasant   words   are   as    a   honeycomb;    sweet   to   the   soul   and   health 
to  the  bones. — Bible. 

outside  of  the  canvas;  finish  all  woodwork  with 
varnish.  If  you  have  been  careful,  you  will  have  a 
craft  that  is  a  thing  of  beauty  and  capable  of  giving 
an  unbounded  amount  of  pleasure,  and  not  the  least 
joy  to  the  possessor  will  come  from  having  built  it 
himself. — William  Jessup,  in  Association  Boys,  Vol. 
IL,  No.  i. 


222.     BACHELORS'  CLUB 

The  "Bachelors'  Club"  of  the  Washington  Associa- 
tion is  the  social  organization  of  the  men  who  live  in 
the  building.  It  is  assembled  under  the  following 
constitution : 


Article  I.     Name 

Section  1.     The  name  of  the  club  shall  be  the  Bachelors' 
Club  of  the  Washington  Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 


Article  II.     Object 

Section  1.  The  object  of  the  organization  shall  be  to 
foster  good  will  and  fellowship  among  the  men  living  in  the 
house,  and  to  facilitate  the  cooperation  of  the  house  men  in 
the  various  activities  of  the  Association. 


Article  III.     Membership 

Section  1.  All  men  living  in  the  house  shall  be  eligible  to 
membership  in  the  club. 

Section  2.  Secretaries  of  the  Washington  Association  shall 
be  ex  officio  members. 


Article  IV.     Dues 

Section  1.  There  shall  be  regular  dues  of  ten  cents  a 
month. 

Section  2.  Assessments  may  be  made  at  any  time  to  cover 
expenses  that  have  been  authorized  by  a  vote  of  the  club. 

Section  3.  Members  whose  dues  are  three  months  in 
arrears  shall  forfeit  membership  until  such  back  dues  are  paid. 


200  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

The  man  who  does  things  makes  many  mistakes,  but  he  never  makes 
the  biggest  mistake  of  all — doing  nothing. — The  Saturday  Evening  Post. 

Article  V.     Officers 

Section  1.  The  officers  of  the  club  shall  be  a  president, 
a  vice-president,  and  a  secretary,  who  shall  also  act  as  treas- 
urer. 

Section  2.  The  officers  shall  be  elected  by  ballot  at  the 
annual  meeting  in  September. 

Section  3.  One  of  the  three  officers  shall  be  elected  from 
each  of  the  three  floors. 

Section  4.  The  officers  shall  perform  the  duties  usually 
pertaining  to   such  positions. 

Article  VI.     Committees 

Section  1.     The  following  shall  be  the  standing  committees  : 

The  House  Committee,  of  six  members,  two  from  each  floor, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  assist  in  enforcing  house  rules,  to 
report  any  necessary  changes  in  rooms  or  occupants,  and  to 
consult  with  the  social  secretary  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association   regarding  prospective  tenants. 

The  Committee  on  New  Men,  of  six  members,  two  from 
each  floor,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  make  the  acquaintance  of 
all  new  men,  endeavor  to  make  them  feel  at  home,  and  invite 
them  to  become  members  of  the  club. 

The  Entertainment  Committee,  of  three  members,  one  from 
each  floor,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  arrange  all  meetings  of 
the  club. 

The  Executive  Committee,  composed  of  the  officers  and 
heads  of  committees,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  attend  to 
the  general  management  of  the  club. 

Article  VII.     Meetings 

Section  1.  The  regular  meeting  of  the  club  shall  be  held 
on  the  last  Thursday  of  each  month. 

Section  2.  Special  meetings  can  be  called  at  any  time  by 
the  executive  committee. 

Article  VIII.    Amendments 

Section  1.  This  constitution  may  be  amended  by  a  two- 
thirds  vote  of  the  members  present  at  a  regular  meeting, 
providing  the  amendment  has  been  read  at  a  previous  meeting. 

The  house  committee  has  done  especially  good  work 
in  the  way  of  self-governing  features.  Through  its 
efforts  the  personnel  of  the  house  has  been  decidedly 
changed    and    greatly    improved;    the    miscellaneous 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  201 

The  happiest  life  is  that  which  constantly  exercises  and  educates 
what  is  best  in  us. — Hamerton. 

protests  and  requests  have  been  handled  and  greatly 
reduced  in  number;  and  the  house  men  have  really 
taken  the  position  of  active  members  of  the  Associa- 
tion instead  of  tenants.  The  monthly  socials  have 
been  varied  and  unique,  and  have  been  the  means  of 
bringing  the  men  into  close  personal  relationship. 

Additional  committees  on  Bible  study,  social 
service,  etc.,  have  been  appointed  at  various  times  to 
carry  on  new  features  of  the  club's  activity.  The 
publication  of  a  biweekly  paper  has  done  much  to 
develop  and  retain  interest  in  the  organization.  "The 
Old  Maid"  has  met  great  favor  from  the  Bachelors. 
Neat  covers  are  printed  in  large  quantities,  and  the 
inside  sheets  are  done  on  the  Association  mimeograph 
at  little  expense.  In  this  way  the  size  of  the  paper 
varies  according  to  the  news  and  gossip  obtainable. 
A  board  of  editors  does  all  the  work — even  the  stencil 
and  mimeograph  part. — Go-aid  Karr  Smith,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. 

223.     BOYS'  GLEE  CLUB 

The  Boys'  Glee  Club  "never  was  born,  it  growed." 
One  March  day  two  boys  came  to  me  and  said :  "We 
want  a  baseball  team.  We've  got  the  material  but  we 
haven't  any  suits.  Can  you  get  up  some  sort  of  an  en- 
tertainment and  get  us  the  money?"  I  thought  over 
various  ways  in  which  "men  take  one's  money  from 
his  purse" — minstrel  shows,  shadow  pantomimes — and 
none  seemed  to  suit.  From  past  experience,  I  knew 
that  the  boys  loved  to  sing — that  they  would  come  at 
any  time  and  stay  around  the  piano  and  sing,  so  I  de- 
termined to  try  my  luck  along  that  line. 

In  March,  1903,  I  held  trials  for  the  Glee  Club. 
Nineteen  boys  came  out  to  try  and  a  very  scared, 
giggly  lot  they  were.  Two  evenings  later  came  the 
first  rehearsal,  when  it  was  found  that  there  were 
about  seven  sopranos  and  eight  tenors  and  only  one 
lone   alto.     Gradually,  however,   the   ranks   filled   up. 


202  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

The  test  of  a  student  is  not  how  much  he  knows  but  how  much  he 
wants  to   know. — Rollins. 

Some  sopranos  were  turned  into  altos  and  numerous 
tenors  were  dropped,  till  the  club  was  fairly  well  bal- 
anced. Then  began  the  rehearsals  proper.  For  two 
months  it  was  a  struggle  for  mastery.  At  last  the  club 
or  rather  chorus  was  drilled  and  on  June  11  the  con- 
cert given.  All  this  time  no  one  dreamed  the  club  was 
for  anything  but  one  concert  and  the  purpose  anything 
except  to  pay  for  baseball  suits. 

When  fall  came  there  were  many  requests  that  we 
repeat  the  concert.  With  very  little  rehearsing  and 
almost  no  change  of  program  this  was  done.  It  went 
well  and  the  audience  was  very  kind.  There  was  a 
minister  present  from  an  adjoining  town.  After  the 
concert  he  asked  if  we  could  not  arrange  to  come  to 
his  church  and  repeat  the  concert ;  and  before  we  real- 
ized it  the  Boys'  Glee  Club  was  formed  and  its  career 
as  a  concert  company  begun. 

Since  that  time  the  club  has  given  concerts  in  and 
about  Newton.  In  February,  1904,  the  club  had  the 
honor  of  singing  at  Somerville  before  the  Massachu- 
setts and  Rhode  Island  Boys'  Conference. 

This  year  the  club  has  twenty  voices  and  is  carry- 
ing on  its  concert  program  with  various  assisting  per- 
formers, on  the  violin,  mandolin,  cornet,  etc.,  from  the 
boys  in  the  Association.  The  club  has  also  a  reader  as 
a  regular  member.  The  program  is  further  diversified 
by  solos  by  different  boys  and  double  quartet.  The 
music  sung  is  that  which  the  college  clubs  use. 

Since  the  first  argument  on  the  subject  there  has 
never  been  any  trouble  about  discipline  either  at  re- 
hearsals or  on  concert  trips.  The  boys  manage  them- 
selves and  are  proud  of  it.  Misconduct  would  be  re- 
proved and  very  likely  punished  by  them  before  the 
leader  had  a  chance  to  interfere.  The  boys  love  to 
sing,  are  eager  to  give  concerts  and  never  balk  if  given 
a  chance  to  sing  alone. 

The  control  of  the  club  is  given  to  its  board  of  direc- 
tors, consisting  of  the  leader,  the  accompanist — 'both 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  203 

A   good   time   is   attractive   enough   to   take   everybody   out   of   himself, 
and  cheery  enough  to  make  every  one  feel  happy. — Amos  R.   Wells. 

men — two  directors  chosen  by  the  boys  from  their  own 
number  and  the  secretary,  also  a  boy.  This  board  has 
full  power  except  that  of  dropping  members  from  the 
i oil,  which  power  resides  exclusively  in  the  full  club 
membership.  This  form  of  government  has  worked 
perfectly. 

Although  the  club  has  regular  charges  for  its  con- 
certs, the  boys  never  receive  the  slightest  pecuniary 
remuneration.  The  money  received  is  used  to  pay  for 
the  music  and  some  is  given  away.  Last  year  the  club 
gave  forty  dollars  to  the  Association.  The  Glee  Club 
dinner  is  the  closing  event  of  every  season.  In  the  first 
part  of  June,  when  strawberries  are  ripe,  the  club — 
former  members  and  present  members — meets  at  the 
Association,  sitting  down  to  a  first-class  dinner.  After 
dinner  different  boys  are  called  on  to  respond  to  toasts, 
and  mirth  and  wit  and  song  flow  free  and  unrestrained. 
A  Glee  Club  dinner  once  enjoyed  is  something  never 
to  be  forgotten. 

New  members  are  usually  elected  in  the  fall.  Ac- 
cording to  the  constitution,  they  are  not  eligible  for  the 
club  until  they  have  sung  at  one  concert,  but  the  wish 
of  the  boys  requires  one  full  season  of  singing  with  the 
club  before  they  are  elected  full  members  and  have  the 
right  to  vote  and  wear  the  glee  club  pin.  When  the 
leader  desires  a  particular  boy  or  some  particular  part 
or  even  the  whole  club  for  a  rehearsal,  he  merely  writes 
postal  cards  and  the  boys  are  present  at,  or  oftener 
before,  the  time  to  rehearse.  At  a  full  club  rehearsal, 
where  twenty  boys  are  expected,  there  may  be  one  ab- 
sent, possibly  two,  never  three,  and  oftenest  all  the 
twenty  are  there. — H.  IV.  B  as  com,  Newton,  Mass., 
Association  Boys,  Vol.  IV.,  No.  6. 

224.     POSTER  CLUB 

It  is  always  desirable  to  have  as  many  boys  as  pos- 
sible attend  the  events  of  the  department.  Posters  are 
excellent  for  advertising.     It  has  been  noticed  at  West 


204  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

A  day,   an  hour,   of  victorious  liberty 

Is  worth  a  whole  eternity  of  bondage. — Addison. 

Side,  New  York,  that  events  have  had  largest  attend- 
ance when  advertised  by  good  posters.  Boys  are  at- 
tracted by  pictures  and  will  stop  and  read  good  posters. 
In  this  way  they  may  be  led  to  a  meeting  in  which 
they  might  begin  the  Christian  life. 

There  are  boys  in  every  department  who  are  just 
longing  for  something  to  do,  and  in  forming  a  poster 
club  at  least  a  small  group  of  fellows  with  some  taste 
for  drawing  could  make  excellent  use  of  their  time. 

Let  this  group  of  fellows  choose  a  president  and 
secretary  whose  duty  shall  be  to  map  out  the  work  for 
each  member  for  a  month,  and  help  him  to  do  it  if  he 
has  difficulties.  Let  them  also  arrange  for  at  least  one 
meeting  a  month  when  some  artist  shall  speak  to  the 
club  and  show  them  how  some  things  are  done. 

For  material,  cartridge  paper  is  used.  It  can  be  pro- 
cured at  any  art  or  paint  store.  It  is  well  to  get  three 
or  four  different  colors,  such  as  yellow,  blue,  red  and 
green. 

The  colors  used  are  powdered  water  colors.  The 
following  are  about  all  that  are  necessary  for  making 
an  ordinary  poster:  red,  yellow,  blue,  brown,  white, 
black,  yellow  ochre,  and  a  good  shade  of  green.  Many 
useful  combinations  can  be  made  with  colors,  such  as 
red  and  yellow  for  orange,  blue  and  red  for  purple,  a 
little  red,  white  and  yellow  ochre  for  a  good  flesh  tint, 
etc. 

Grind  the  colors  on  ground  glass  with  a  palette  knife 
until  fine  and  free  from  lumps.  Mix  the  colors  with 
mucilage  and  water,  about  one  third  mucilage  to  two 
thirds  water.  (The  mucilage  is  used  so  that  the  colors 
will  not  rub.)  These  should  be  mixed  thoroughly  and 
should  be  neither  too  thick  nor  too  thin.  After  a  little 
experience  you  will'know  just  what  proportions  to  use. 
Use  only  those  colors  which  are  necessary  to  tell  the 
story,  and  see  that  they  harmonize.  Red,  blue  and 
green ;  orange  and  black ;  red  and  blue ;  blue  and  yel- 
low ;  white,  red  and  blue ;  brown,  red  and  white  all 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS 


205 


Not  what  we  give  but  what  we  share, 

For  the   gift  without  the    giver   is   bare. — Lowell. 

harmonize.  The  part  of  your  design  to  be  emphasized 
should  be  worked  out  the  strongest,  using  lighter  color 
for  other  parts.  Broad,  flat  washes  of  color  with  no 
attempt  at  shading  are  the  most  effective.     The  best 


*£** 


'  •  l^n  i  \  s  ^  a 


s§«ru 


DlDTOlf  lY£R  5T0PTS 

ThinK? 


posters  have  very  few  if  any  details.  A  design  will  be 
brought  out  stronger  when  outlined  in  black.  The 
lighter  colors  should  be  put  on  first  so  that  mistakes 
can  be  covered  when  putting  on  the  darker  colors. 

Camel's  hair  and  bristle  brushes  are  used.     A  broad 
brush    and    a    fine   one    are   necessary.      The   bristle 


206  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Christianity  is   social. — Anon. 

brushes  will  be  found  to  be  most  useful  and  serviceable. 
Charcoal  is  used  to  draw  the  design.  This  is  easily 
erased  with  a  cloth  or  bread  crumbs. 

After  you  get  your  subject,  design  something  that 
will  be  appropriate  and  will  appeal  to  boys.  You 
would  not  want  to  illustrate  an  Easter  poster  with  a 
holly  wreath;  nor  an  outing  with  a  boy  reading  by  a 
fireside. 

Try  to  be  original.  If  you  design  a  poster  that 
takes,  find  out  what  was  in  the  poster  that  was  liked 
and  decide  why  it  is  good.  Never  design  first  to 
please,  then  to  tell  the  story.  If  you  cannot  make  an 
original  design  for  a  subject  try  to  find  one  in  a  maga- 
zine and  enlarge  it  or  build  upon  it.  One  way  to 
enlarge  is  to  divide  your  small  picture  into  squares. 
Now  if  you  wish  to  make  the  picture  on  the  poster  ten 
times  as  large,  draw  the  squares  ten  times  as  large  on 
your  poster.  Then  draw  your  design,  using  the  same 
proportion  all  the  way  through.  It  is  a  good  plan  to 
keep  an  indexed  scrapbook  for  designs.  Look 
through  old  magazines  and  if  you  find  any  pictures 
which  you  think  you  could  use  to  advantage  cut  them 
out  and  put  them  in  your  scrapbook. 

After  your  design  has  been  made  then  make  your 
letters.  At  the  beginning  you  should  be  very  careful. 
Good  plain  letters  are  best.  At  first  it  may  be  difficult 
to  make  them  well  without  measuring  them.  Of 
course,  "practice  makes  perfect,"  and  the  more  letter- 
ing you  do  the  easier  it  becomes. 

Why  should  not  every  department  keep  a  group  of 
boys  happily  engaged  in  this  sort  of  work?  An  annual 
exhibition  with  prizes  for  best  work  done  would  add 
to  the  interest. — John  B.  Strohhacker,  West  Side, 
N.  Y.,  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  in  Association  Boys,  Vol.  L,  No.  6. 

225.     FENCING  CLUB 

It  is  usually  not  difficult  to  find  in  any  boys'  depart- 
ment a  number  of  older  boys  who  are  anxious  to  know 
fencing,  and  who  are  eager  to  join  a  fencing  club  if 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS 

Blessed    are    the    joy-makers. — Willis. 


207 


organized.  Fencing  is  a  "kingly"  sport,  the  best  of 
exercises,  a  splendid  training  for  the  judgment  and  the 
eye,  and  gives  ease  and  grace  to  the  body.  It  requires 
strain,  patience,  endurance,  and  real  hard  work,  but  to 
the  earnest  and  active  boy  there  is  a  fascination  about 
the  sport  which  increases  with  knowledge  and  skill. 


Fencing  Exercise. 


In  the  organization  of  a  successful  fencing  club  the 
first  essential  is  the  securing  of  an  enthusiastic  and 
qualified  instructor.  A  lover  of  the  sport  is  needed  to 
carry  the  members  through  the  tiresome,  straining,  and 
uninteresting  first  movements,  such  as  the  position,  the 
guard,  the  lunge,  and  parries.  These  must  be  learned 
perfectly  if  skill  is  to  be  obtained.  The  organization 
of  the  club  should  be  similar  to  that  of  any  other  club, 
with  president,  secretary,  treasurer,  a  constitution,  by- 
laws, and  meetings  once  or  twice  a  month.  Classes 
should  be  held  once,  if  not  twice,  a  week.     Our  club  is 


208  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

When    I'm    not    thanked    at    all,    I'm   thanked    enough; 
I've  done  my  duty,  and  I've  done  no  more. — Fielding. 

self-supporting,  owns  its  outfit  and  pays  the  instructor. 
The  dues  of  the  club  are  one  dollar  a  year,  paid  semi- 
annually, and  with  this  money  foils,  masks,  etc.,  are 
purchased.  Besides  the  annual  dues  a  weekly  charge 
of  ten  or  fifteen  cents  is  made  to  pay  the  instructor. 
The  membership  is  limited  to  twenty  in  order  that  each 
member  may  receive  individual  attention.  A  larger 
number  than  this,  and  even  this  number  is  large,  makes 
it  impossible  for  the  instructor  to  give  each  member 
the  attention  he  should  have.  If  more  apply  for  mem- 
bership than  can  be  handled  conveniently  at  one  time, 
there  may  either  be  a  waiting  list  or  two  classes  a 
week,  half  of  the  members  attending  each  class.  A 
full  attendance  at  each  lesson  should  be  sought  for. 
An  irregular  member  learns  little,  soon  becomes  dis- 
couraged, and  is  detrimental  to  the  progress  of  the 
class.  For  encouragement  to  obtain  proficiency, 
monthly  tournaments  may  be  held,  at  which  a  small 
prize  or  badge  may  be  given  the  winner,  to  be  worn 
during  the  following  month  or  until  he  loses  posses- 
sion of  it  by  reason  of  defeat  at  a  succeeding  tourna- 
ment. 

The  outfit  of  the  club  should  consist  of  foils,  masks, 
gloves,  and  several  jackets  or  plastrons  if  possible. 
With  the  annual  dues  several  pairs  of  foils  and  masks 
can  be  purchased.  There  are  always  some  members 
who  desire  to  possess  their  own  outfits.  If  the  supply 
of  foils  is  limited,  sticks  can  be  used  in  learning  the 
first  movements,  and  in  actual  combat  turns  can  be 
taken.  The  gymnasium  suit  with  long  trousers  makes 
a  very  suitable  fencing  suit.  Rubber  soled  shoes 
should  be  worn.  In  purchasing  the  outfit  care  should 
be  taken  to  get  the  best,  for  the  cheap  foils  and  masks 
are  often  dangerous.  The  bell  guard  foils,  number 
2  or  3,  with  Coulaux  or  Solingeu  blades  costing  from 
$2.50  to  $3  a  pair  are  the  best.  Number  2  or  3 
masks,  costing  $3  to  $4  a  pair,  should  be  secured. 
Gauntlets   can  be  obtained   from   75   cents  to  $1.50. 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  209 

A     man's    best     things     are     nearest    him, 
Lie   close    about   his   feet. — Milnes. 

Jackets  cost  from  $5  to  $10,  and  plastrons  from  $1.50 

up. 

The  illustration  shows  our  own  club  at  work. — 
Richard  L.  Flynn,  in  Association  Boys,  Vol.  II.,  No.  I. 

226.     A  SUCCESSFUL  STAMP  CLUB 

The  Trenton,  N.  J.,  club  was  originally  known  as 
the  "Stamp  Club,"  but  is  now  called  the  "Philatelic 
Society,"  the  boys  considering  the  new  name  more 
scientific  and  dignified. 

Any  boy  wishing  to  join  the  society  must  apply  for 
membership  through  its  officers,  and  if  he  is  accept- 
able to  the  members,  a  vote  is  passed  to  put  his  name 
upon  the  eligible  list,  but  in  order  to  become  a  regular 
member  he  must  fulfill  certain  requirements.  First, 
he  must  be  a  member  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  and  own  a  hundred  different  stamps, 
United  States  and  foreign,  arranged  in  an  album  in 
order  that  the  collection  may  be  neat  and  systematic. 
Second,  he  must  take  an  examination  to  show  that  he 
knows  the  countries  from  which  some  fifty  different 
stamps  come  and  answer  eighty  per  cent  of  the  ques- 
tions correctly.  If  the  candidate  successfully  passes 
these  tests  he  is  taken  in  charge  by  the  committee  on 
initiation  and  admitted  into  the  secrets  and  activities 
of  the  Philatelic  Society. 

Regular  meetings  are  held  every  second  and  fourth 
Monday  of  each  month.  The  business  consists  of  re- 
ports from  the  examining  committee,  a  talk  on  stamps 
by  the  president  or  one  of  the  members,  initiation,  exhi- 
bition and  comparison  of  stamps  and  generally  some 
announcements  about  the  Exchange.  The  latter  is  a 
stock  company  of  members  of  the  society  where 
stamps  are  exchanged.  The  company  has  a  capital 
stock  of  200  shares,  valued  at  20  cents  per  share  par 
value.  If  a  boy  puts  20  cents'  worth  of  stamps  into 
the  Exchange  he  gets  a  certificate.  He  can  buy  other 
stamps  from  the  Exchange  with  his  shares,  and  twice 


210  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Some  people  have  to  have  their  sunshine  warm;  others  are  satisfied 
just  with  its  being  sunshine. — Rollins. 

a  year  he  gets  a  dividend.  Three  fourths  of  the  profits 
of  the  Exchange  go  to  make  up  a  surplus  which,  in 
time,  becomes  a  collection  for  the  Association,  and  the 
remaining  fourth  is  divided  into  dividends  semi- 
annually for  the  stockholders.  The  accounts  of  the 
Exchange  are  audited  by  the  boys'  secretary  when  each 
dividend  is  declared  to  assure  correct  bookkeeping. 
Surplus,  dividends  and  all  are  stamps — no  money  is 
handled.     Stamps  are  wealth  in  this  stock  exchange. 

The  Exchange  holds  auction  sales,  where  boys  sell 
their  duplicates.  These  sales  are  managed  like  any 
auction :  stamps,  albums,  etc.,  selling  for  cash  to  the 
highest  bidder.  These  sales  are  very  exciting  and  no 
end  of  fun.  The  Exchange  gets  ten  per  cent  on  all 
sales,  and  this  makes  a  very  nice  little  sum  to  defray 
current  expenses. 

Every  year  we  have  a  banquet  for  the  members  of 
the  society  and  a  few  invited  guests.  There  are 
speeches  on  such  subjects  as  "The  History  of  the 
Club,"  "Things  New  and  Old  About  Stamps,"  "The 
Society  Itself."  Then  we  have  an  address  by  some 
famous  collector. 

And  so  the  club  goes  on  with  meetings  and  banquets, 
auction  sales  and  exchange  matters,  buying  and  selling, 
adding  value  to  the  collections  and  having  a  lot  of  fun 
along  the  way. — C.  C.  Robinson,  Association  Boys, 
Vol  L,  No.  i. 


227.     BENT  IRON  WORK  CLUB 

A  feature  that  can  be  introduced  readily  into  most 
boys'  departments  is  a  club  in  bent  iron  work.  The 
club  members  make  useful  and  ornamental  articles 
out  of  thin,  narrow  strips  of  iron.  The  finished  pro- 
duct is  sometimes  known  as  Venetian  iron  work.  The 
experience  of  the  Washington  Heights  Branch  is  that 
the  club  appeals  most  to  boys  from  fourteen  to  six- 
teen years  of  age. 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  211 

Dost  thou  love  life?     Then  do  not  squander  time,  for  that  is  the  stuff 
life  is  made  of. — Poor  Richard. 

The  cost  of  an  equipment  for  from  twelve  to  twenty- 
four  boys  would  be  $.20.  This  would  include  one 
dozen  five-inch  flat  nose  plyers,  one  dozen  five-inch 
round  nose  plyers,  one  dozen  riveting  hammers  (four 
to  six  ounces),  one  dozen  small  bench  vices  (the  kind 
that  can  be  screwed  to  the  table  with  a  handscrew), 
one  dozen  rules  (two  foot,  four  fold),  one  No.  10 
metal  snips  (P.  S.  &  W.'s). 

The  material  used  is  called  strap-iron.  It  is  one 
thirty-second  of  an  inch  thick  and  varies  in  width,  by 
sixteenths,  from  one  eighth  of  an  inch  up.  The  sizes 
generally  used  are  one  eighth  inch  and  one  quarter 
inch.  The  one  eighth  inch  iron  is  used  on  the  very 
small  articles,  such  as  match-holders,  stamp  receptacles 
or  bonbon  dishes.  The  one  quarter  inch  iron  is  used 
for  such  articles  as  penracks,  inkstands,  brackets  or 
candelabras.  The  iron  costs,  in  bulk,  seven  cents  a 
pound,  and  comes  in  fifty-pound  coils.  It  can  also  be 
purchased  in  fifty- foot  coils,  at  an  average  of  twenty- 
one  cents  a  coil.  The  binders  cost  ten  cents  a  hundred, 
but  are  cheaper  in  bulk.  Ivory  black  paint  (one-pound 
cans,  thirty-five  cents)  is  used  for  finishing. 

A  set  of  plans  can  be  purchased  of  most  school 
supply  houses,  and  valuable  hints  can  be  secured  from 
a  booklet,  "Venetian  Iron  Work,"  issued  by  the  But- 
terick  Publishing  Company,  23d  Street,  New  York. 

Hammacher,  Schlemmer  &  Company,  Bowery,  New 
York,  have  made  a  special  feature  of  blue  prints  and 
other  supplies.  They  have  given  this  Association  a 
discount  of  twenty-five  per  cent  on  their  list  prices. 

The  equipment  of  the  Washington  Heights  Branch 
was  given  by  the  Witness  Circle  of  King's  Daughters 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Two  clubs  are  main- 
tained, with  an  enrollment  of  fifteen  boys  in  each. 

The  teacher  of  the  clubs  had  no  previous  experience. 
All  that  is  required  is.  an  ability  to  use  tools  and  to 
draw  simple  plans. 

An   interesting   fact   is   that  the   things   that   have 


212  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

The   test   of   simplicity   is   not   what   it   lacks,    but   what   it   chooses   to 
do    without. — Rollins. 

appealed  to  our  boys  have  been  articles  that  can  be 
used  in  their  homes. — Alfred  O.  Booth,  Washington 
Heights  Branch,  New  York  City,  in  Association  Boys, 
Vol.  III.,  No.  2. 


228.     SMALL  CLUBS 

There  is  nothing  more  natural  than  for  birds  of  a 
feather  to  flock  together.  Boys  of  kindred  tastes  and 
like  interests  are  bound  to  get  together,  if  not  in  the 
Association,  then  outside.  It  seems  as  though  every 
conceivable  kind  of  a  club  is  now  in  operation  in  some 
boys'  department.  The  following  list  is  made  up  from 
reports  which  have  come  in  since  the  first  of  January, 
this  year  (1902).  Sometimes  various  names  are  given 
for  the  same  thing  or  for  clubs  which  are  very  similar 
in  their  make-up.  In  some  of  these  the  club  idea  is 
well  developed,  in  others  very  little  organization  is 
evident.  The  following  list  is  not  recommended  for 
any  Association,  but  is  given  in  order  to  be  suggestive. 
If  further  information  is  desired  regarding  any  of 
these  clubs  Association  Boys  will  be  glad  to  present 
whatever  information  is  available. 

Bicycle  Club,  Wheel  Club,  Rough  Riders,  Football  Team, 
Baseball  Club,  Indoor  Baseball  Club,  Basket-Bail  League, 
Volley  Ball,  Hockey  Club,  Cricket  Club,  Polo  Club,  Bom- 
bardment Club,  Golf  Club,  La  Crosse  Club,  Athletic  Society 
Tennis  Club,  Bowling  League,  Skating  Club,  Running  Club, 
Single  Stick  Club,  Stamp  Club,  Coin  Club,  Sketch  Club, 
Camera  Club,  Debating  Club,  Literary  Society,  Junior  Bota- 
nists, Mineralogy  Club,  Natural  Science  Club,  Junior 
Naturalists,  Nature  Study  Club,  Audubon  Society,  Weather 
Bureau,  Agassiz  Association,  Lyceum,  Mystic  Midgets,  Imagi- 
nation Club,  Shakespeare  Club,  Reading  Club,  Personal  Purity 
League,  Personal  Workers'  Club,  Junior  Volunteer  League, 
Jubilee  Band,  Bible  Study  League,  Band  of  Mercy.  Missionary 
Club,  Orchestra,  Mandolin  Club,  Boys'  Choir,  "Guitar  Club, 
Zobo  Band,  Congress,  Citv  Government,  Senate,  Slovd  Club, 
Electricity  Club,  Poster  Club,  Scroll  Saw  Club,  Cadet  Com- 
pany, Gun  Drill,  Boys'  Brigade,  Military  Drill,  Hare  and 
Hounds,  Cross  Country  Club.  Jauntinor  Club,  Fishing  Club, 
Canoe    Club,    Boating   Club,    Croquet   Club,    Gypsy   Tramping 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS 


213 


The   hour   is  not   wasted   that  brings   with   it  tranquillity   of  mind   and 
an  uplifting  of  the  heart. — Bradford  Torrey. 

Club,  Kite  Contests,  Outing  Club,  Trampers,  Camp  Club, 
Hobo  Club,  Houseboat  Club,  Swimming  Club,  Hikers'  Club, 
Success  Club,  "Do  the  Best  You  Can"  Club,  "Help  the  Other 
Fellow"  Club,  "Skeeters,"  "Work  and  Win"  Club,  "Pan"  Club, 
Fun  and  Earnest  Club,  Relief  Corps,  Shooting  Club,  Anti- 
Cigarette  League,  Temperance  Society,  McKinley  Memorial 
Club,  Knights  of  King  Arthur,  Working  Boys'  Club,  Social 
Club,  Boys'  Industrial  Club,  Game  Club,  Chess  and  Checker 
Club,  Carom  Club,  Membership  Club,  Toastmasters'  Club. 

Here  is  an  interesting  assortment.  ''You  pays  your 
money  and  you  takes  your  choice." — E.  M.  R.  in  Asso- 
ciation Boys,  Vol.  I.,  No.  2. 


Boys'  Orchestra 

229.     MANDOLIN  AND  GUITAR  CLUB 

The  club  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1902,  with 
about  a  dozen  members  who  played  mandolins  and 
violins.  The  year  before  a  few  members  and  the 
secretary  had  found  it  very  enjoyable  to  get  together 
with  their  mandolins  and  play  popular  music  on  social 
evenings.  This  naturally  led  to  the  organization  of  the 
club,   with  the   addition  of   several  others  who   were 


214  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Friendship!    mysterious   cement  of  the  soul! 
Sweet'ner  of  life!   and  solder  of  society. — Blair. 

interested.  They  then  looked  around  for  an  instruct- 
or, and  decided  upon  a  widely  known  teacher  of  the 
mandolin,  banjo  and  guitar,  not  only  the  best  in  the 
city,  but  one  of  the  best  in  the  profession.  The  first 
thought  was  that  he  was  too  expensive,  but  it  has 
proven,  as  is  usually  the  case,  that  the  best  is  the 
cheapest.  The  fellows  decided  upon  Monday  even- 
ings, from  7.30  to  9.00,  for  the  regular  rehearsals. 
From  that  time  to  the  following  May  they  met  regu- 
larly, with  almost  perfect  attendance.  After  two  or 
three  months'  work  they  began  to  have  outside  engage- 
ments, principally  at  church  suppers,  entertainments, 
fairs  and  receptions.  At  the  end  of  the  season  the 
club  numbered  about  twenty  pieces,  and  on  the  last 
of  April  a  successful  concert  was  given  from  which  it 
realized  a  fairly  good  sum  of  money. 

Early  the  next  fall  they  were  eager  to  commence 
work  again  and  before  their  first  rehearsal,  the  latter 
part  of  September,  had  three  engagements  waiting  for 
them.  The  present  membership  is  twenty-five;  the 
average  attendance  at  rehearsals  is  over  twenty,  and 
Monday  night  always  finds  them  promptly  on  time, 
ready  for  work.  Their  average  age  is  sixteen,  most 
of  them  being  high  school  fellows.  The  club  has 
proven  the  best  kind  of  an  advertisement  for  the  de- 
partment. They  have  played  in  nearly  all  the  leading 
churches,  as  well  as  for  some  of  the  best  clubs  in  the 
city.  Their  work  has  been  loudly  applauded  on  every 
occasion,  and  the  Association  has  received  only  compli- 
ments and  congratulations  regarding  it. — O.  E.  Bourne, 
Worcester,  Mass.,  in  Association  Boys,  Vol.  III.,  No.  2. 

230.     LOBBY  CLUB 

TO   MEET  STRANGERS  AND  BE  GENERALLY  USEFUL 

Dear  Lobby  Clubber: 

The  Lobby  Club  had  an  interesting  and  profitable 
meeting  last   night,   at   which   considerable   important 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  215 

On    bravely    through    the    sunshine    and    the    showers! 
Time  hath  his  work  to  do   and  we  have  ours. — Emerson. 

business  was  transacted.  The  New  Year's  plans  were 
thoroughly  discussed,  and  practically  every  man  agreed 
to  be  on  hand  from  2.30  to  10.30  o'clock.  The  men 
who  have  no  particular  parts  assigned  will  assist  in 
general  reception  work  in  the  lobby. 

The  newest  venture  of  the  club  will  be  the  assump- 
tion of  work  connected  with  the  rooming-house  regis- 
ter. Members  of  the  club  have  agreed  to  investigate 
all  rooms  listed,  and  do  what  they  can  to  improve  the 
present  system.  Please  hold  yourself  in  readiness  for 
it. 

The  assignment  of  nights  in  the  lobby  as  I  now  have 
them  is  as  follows : 

Monday,  Taggart  and  Lavins. 
Tuesday,  Corey,  Frost  and  H.  S.  Smith. 
Wednesday,  Chadbourn  and  Grinnell. 
Thursday,   Ersfeld   and   Siedam. 
Friday,  Curtis  and  Hanford. 
Saturday,   Schnare. 

This  leaves  unassigned:  Bass  ford,  Burklin,  Disque, 
Stebbins,  Truman  and  Neibel. 

If  you  cover  the  time  between  4.30  and  6.00  o'clock, 
your  services  will  be  as  useful  as  though  given  for  the 
period  after  dinner.  I  know  this  period  is  not  always 
yours  to  give. 

A  new  register  book  will  be  placed  in  my  desk  on 
January  1.  The  Lobby  Committee  is  to  report  here- 
after on  the  men  who  have  signed  up  during  the  week. 

The  next  meeting  will  be  held  January  3 ;  the  place 
to  be  announced  later. 

Wishing  you  a  Merry  Christmas,  I  am 

Sincerely, 

Gerald  Karr  Smith, 

Social    Secretary. 


216  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Be  noble!  and  the  nobleness  that  lies 
In  other  men,  sleeping,  but  never  dead, 
Will  rise  in   majesty   to    meet   thine   own. — Lowell. 

231.     DIARY  CLUB* 

Let  a  group  of  boys  or  young  men  get  together  in 
an  informal  club  to  make  the  most  out  of  their  vaca- 
tion or  other  outing  by  keeping  an  observation  diary. 
There  should  be  entered  daily  such  items  as  the 
weather:  temperature,  direction  of  the  wind  and 
whether  light  or  high,  variable,  etc. ;  the  sky,  whether 
clear  or  cloudy  and  what  kinds  of  clouds ;  if  wet,  the 
character  of  the  rain — steady  downpour,  drizzle, 
showers,  thunder-storms,  foggy,  etc.  If  on  the  water, 
describe  the  stream  or  lake,  the  color  and  clearness, 
the  surface,  whether  smooth  or  rough,  and  how  rough ; 
tell  about  the  shores,  whether  high  and  rocky  or  low 
and  sandy  or  marshy,  if  wooded,  or  cultivated  farm 
lands.  If  tramping  through  the  country,  describe  the 
roads,  the  general  landscape  at  different  points;  if  in 
the  woods  tell  of  the  kinds  of  trees  seen,  their  trunks, 
size,  bark,  limbs,  foliage,  fruit  or  nuts.  A  scene  should 
be  so  described  that  when  read  later  the  person  him- 
self would  be  able  to  perfectly  recall  it  and — if  an 
artist — be  able  to  paint  it;  and  also,  that  another,  lis- 
tening to  the  description,  would  see  the  picture.  To 
make  a  description  of  this  kind  there  must  be  not  only 
the  general  view  but  careful  attention  to  details.  If 
six,  eight  or  ten  fellows  will  really  attempt  such  a 
diary  they  will  find  it  immensely  interesting  and  very 
helpful,  and  a  number  of  evenings  may  be  spent  dur- 
ing the  following  winter  in  comparing  notes — the  read- 
ing and  discussing  and  criticising  of  the  several  diaries. 
The  practical  benefits  will  come  in  an  increased  interest 
in  observing  and  describing  the  scenes  and  events  of 
everyday  life,  and  in  improving  one's  facility  and  style 
in  writing. — H.  S.  N. 


*  Attention  is  called  to  a  splendid  vest-pocket  vacation  diarv  edited 
by  Charles  R.  Scott,  State  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Newark,  N.  T.  As  a  means 
of  encouraging  boys  to  make  memoranda  of  helps  received  in  camp, 
and  as  a  suggestion  to  them  of  the  possible  helpful  influences  about 
them,  it  is  invaluable.      10  cents  each.      $3.50  a  hundred. 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  217 

He  most  lives 
Who    thinks    most,    feels    the    noblest, 
Acts  the  best. — Bailey. 

232.     LUNCH  CLUB 

FOR   DINING   ROOMS   THAT   DONT   PAY 

We  had  a  completely  furnished  lunch  room,  but 
were  going  through  the  trial,  financial  and  otherwise, 
common  to  all  Associations  that  conduct  eating  places, 
especially  when  regular  meals  are  served.  We  evolved 
the  following  plan,  which  is  a  success,  after  fifteen 
months'  trial.  We  called  a  meeting  of  the  members 
rooming  in  the  building  and  proposed  to  turn  over  to 
them  the  whole  equipment,  and  furnish  the  room,  light, 
heat  and  water,  all  free  to  them ;  they  were  to  organize 
and  conduct  their  own  cafe,  paying  cost  for  meals.  _ 

Officers  were  elected  and  the  club  plan  started  with 
seventeen  members.     The  number  increased  to  about 
sixty  regulars,  besides  meal-ticket  men.     We  made  a 
few   conditions,    for   instance— anything   in   the   meal 
line  purchased  and  paid  for  by  the  Association,  was  to 
be  served  at  cost.     Meal  tickets  were  to  be  sold  at  a 
reasonable  rate,  and  single  meals  for  twenty-five  cents. 
On   this   basis   a   $3   ticket   is   sold    for   $2.50,   the 
profit  on  these  and  the  single  meals  going  to  the  club 
to    help   keep   their   board   low.     Each    club   member 
paid  $10   in   advance,   with   an   assessment  of   $2    at 
end  of  the  first  month.     Thereafter  the  monthly  rate 
was  $12  in  advance,  and  this  paid  expenses  for  the 
first  year.     Owing  to  a  change  of  cooks,  the  expense 
ran  up  then,  and  they  raised  the  price  to  $13,  where 
it   is   now.     It  will  probably  be  lowered  again  soon. 
Ordinary   boarding-house    prices    here    are   $17.50   to 
$20   monthly,   and   the   meals   at  the  Association   are 
better.     The   advantages   to   the   Association   are :   no 
financial  loss,  no  troubles  for  the  office  force  in  secur- 
ing help,  etc.     Sixty  fellows  eat  every  meal  here,  and 
thereby  get   well   acquainted,   making  the  best   social 
feeling  in   the   building  I  have   ever   seen   anywhere. 
The  plan  also  helps  to  keep  rooms  filled. — L.  E.  Jones, 
Fort  Worth,  Texas. 


218 


SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 


This    shining    moment    is    an    edifice    which    the    Omnipotent    cannot 
rebuild. — Emerson. 

233.     BUSY  BUILDERS'   CLUB 

The  Busy  Builders  of  Holyoke  is  a  club  of  boys 
which  meets  in  the  attic  of  the  Association  building 
and  builds  things.  This  is  not  manual  training,  as 
some  understand  it  at  least.  These  boys  are  no  more 
fond  of  making  sloyd  models  than  are  others,  but  they 
do  like  to  build  things.  There  is  no  need  of  contrast- 
ing the  value  of  this  kind  of  work  with  any  of  those 


systems  of  manual  training  which  a  boy  has  to  be  al- 
most clubbed  or  else  hypnotized  into  taking.  These 
boys  like  to  build  things  and  they  do  it  under  compe- 
tent direction,  and  it  does  them  good  in  many  obvious 
ways.  A  workshop  (not  exclusively  for  wood  work- 
ing) under  wise  direction  is  a  great  thing  for  any  boys' 
department,  and  there  are  hosts  of  boys  who  "like  to 
build  things"  who  have  a  suspicious  dread  of  aught 
that  resembles  a  course  in  anything,  and  it  is  well  worth 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS 


219 


Fortunately   what   God   expects   of   us   is   not  the  best,   but   only   our 
best. — Rollins. 

while  for  the  Association  to  get  hold  of  such  latch- 
strings. 

It  is  quite  possible  that  such  a  shop  might  create  a 
desire  for  a  scientific  course  in  manual  training  or 
mechanical  drawing  or  any  one  of  a  dozen  other  things, 
in  boys  who  would  otherwise  never  have  aspired  to 
them.  A  busy  builders'  workshop  is  a  good  thing  any- 
way; let  us  have  more  of  them. — Association  Boys, 
Vol.  IV.,  No.  6. 


Surveying  Club,  Field  Work 

234.     SURVEYING  CLUB 

One  of  these  clubs  is  being  arranged  at  Providence, 
R.  I.  The  plan  is  to  organize  under  the  leadership 
of  the  educational  director  and  to  construct  some 
simple  surveyor's  apparatus  with  which  many  interest- 
ing problems  may  be  solved.  This  kind  of  a  club  seems 
particularly   well   adapted  to   "the   good   old   summer 


220  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

We  cannot  argue  men  into  the  Kingdom,  but  we  can  sympathize 
them  in,  we  can  love  them  in.  Are  you  a  hermit  Christian? — Amos  R. 
Wells. 

time."  There  is  probably  no  better  place  to  "survey 
the  landscape  o'er"  than  at  boys'  camps,  and  some  such 
interesting  educational  features  might  well  be  intro- 
duced there.  It  is  a  mistake  to  believe  that  boys  do 
not  get  as  much  fun  and  satisfaction  out  of  profitable 
employment  as  they  do  from  simply  lolling  around  or 
everlastingly  playing  the  same  old  games.  Of  course, 
surveying  at  camp  could  be  made  a  regular  grind,  but 
this  need  not  be.  We  are  a  long  way  behind  some 
other  kinds  of  boys'  camps  in  making  such  educational 
features  not  only  of  absorbing  interest,  but  in  getting 
the  boys  to  regard  them  as  rare  privileges  for  which 
they  are  willing  to  pay  fully  as  much  as  were  the  boys 
who  secured  the  privilege  of  whitewashing  Tom 
Sawyer's  fence. — Association  Boys,  Vol.  III.,  No.  j. 


235.     AUDUBON   SOCIETY 

The  Audubon  Society  in  connection  with  the  boys' 
department  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  is  formed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  nature  study.  Its  motto  is  "A  bird  in  the  bush 
is  worth  two  in  the  hand."  Its  meetings  are  held 
every  other  Saturday  afternoon.  Lectures  by  promi- 
nent naturalists  are  arranged  and  a  systematic  study 
of  birds  and  bird  life  engaged  in.  In  the  spring,  the 
club  takes  what  they  call  "bird  walks."  Observation 
-is  made  of  the  manner  in  which  birds  build  their 
homes,  how  they  mate,  etc.  A  fire  is  built ;  coffee  and 
fried  egg  sandwiches  are  made,  and  an  appetizing 
feast  is  indulged  in.  Boys  have  found  this  to  be 
more  enjoyable  than  taking  the  life  of  song  birds 
simply  for  sport.  This  club  is  connected  with  the 
Pennsylvania  Audubon  Society  and  each  member 
receives  a  certificate  of  membership.  The  following 
baggage  is  taken  on  their  walks:  field  glasses,  cameras, 
reference  books  notebooks,  cooking  utensils  and 
eatables. — Association  Boys,  Vol.  II.,  No.  2. 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS 


221 


Though  the  mills  of  God  grind  slowly,  yet  they  grind  exceeding  small; 
Though  with   patience  he   stands   waiting,   with   exactness   he   grinds   all. 

— V  jn    Logau. 

236.     MUSICAL  ORGANIZATIONS 

There  are  few  boy  instincts  that  may  be  turned  to 
better  account  than  his  love  of  music,  and  the  Asso- 
ciation should  surely  take  advantage  of  it.  There  is 
a  great  variety  of  vocal  and  instrumental  combination 
and  one  may  be  selected  for  almost  any  possible  group 
of  boys  or  young  men  who  are  musically  inclined. 
While  there  may  be  many  who  fail  to  make  a  success 


Association  Drum  Corps 


with  music  as  a  profession,  it  is  a  wonderfully  pleasing 
avocation  for  the  individual  himself,  and  there  are 
constantly  occurring  opportunities  for  the  amateur  to 
render  pleasing  and  helpful  service  for  others — in  the 
home,  the  Association,  the  church,  and  elsewhere.  No 
Association  should  be  without  its  glee  club  and  its 
orchestra,  and  there  are  few  cities  where,  with  tactful 
effort,  this  may  not  be  brought  about.  Such  organi- 
zations will  prove  a  great  aid  in  the  social  work,  and 
every  such  club  is  a  social  affair  of  itself. — N. 


222 


SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 


Fearlessness  burns  its  bridges  behind;  fear,  the  bridges  before. — The 
Saturday    Evening    Post. 

237.     PYROGRAPHY  CLUBS 

A  class  in  pyrography  or  wood-burning  is  advertised 
by  a  Pennsylvania  Railroad  boys'  department.  This 
class  included  freehand  drawing,  color  work,  wood- 
burning,  etc.  Another  Association  advertises  a  class 
in  pyrography  in  connection  with  their  instruction  in 
sloyd  or  wood-working.  The  boys  manufacture  their 
own  taborets.  picture  frames,  panels,  etc.,  afterwards 


Basket  Weaving 


decorating  them.  A  very  successful  class  in  pyrog- 
raphy is  found  at  St.  George's  Trade  School,  New 
York.  Here  the  boys  make  original  designs  for  their 
wood-burning.  The  equipment  for  such  classes  is 
simple  and  comparatively  inexpensive,  and  many  of 
our  departments  might  do  well  in  organizing  such 
classes. 


ASSOCIATION  CLUBS  223 

A  cobweb   spun  across  an   open  doorway   is   a  surer  sign  that  nobody 
has  entered  lately  than  an  iron  bolted  gate. — Rollins. 

238.     "LEND  A  HAND" 

The  better  instincts  of  a  group  of  boys  may  often 
be  taken  advantage  of  by  turning  their  activities  into 
some  simple  and  practical  form  of  altruistic  service. 
Get  the  boys  to  do  helpful  acts  for  some  poor  woman 
or  elderly  couple,  persons  who  need  and  would  appre- 
ciate the  service;  doing  necessary  errands,  preparing 
fuel,  making  paths  in  the  winter,  etc.  With  tactful 
suggestion  almost  any  boys  will  take  up  such  service 
and  make  real  fun  out  of  it — a  fun  that  leaves  no  bad 
taste  in  the  mouth  but  is  conducive  to  pleasant  dreams. 
And  such  service  will  grow  with  the  growth  of  the 
boy  and  bring  forth  fruit  in  later  life. — N. 


239.     BOYS'  BOOK  CLUB 

The  Boys'  Book  Club  in  Everett,  Washington,  was 
organized  in  1903.  The  boys  spend  one  evening  each 
week  together  reading  some  good  book.  The  member- 
ship in  the  club  is  limited  to  ten  boys  and  is  under  the 
personal  supervision  of  the  physical  director.  They 
have  read  such  books  as  Snow  Shoes  and  Sledges,  The 
Call  of  the  Wild,  Two  Little  Savages,  and  The  Fur 
Seal's  Tooth.  Social  features  are  introduced  and  fre- 
quently light  refreshments  served.  The  club  is  now 
promoting  a  series  of  practical  talks  for  the  members 
of  the  boys'  department. — Association  Boys,  Vol.  IV., 
No.  4. 

210.     JUNIOR  COMMERCIAL  CLUB 

This  club  is  composed  of  employed  boys  and  meets 
once  a  month.  It  is  planned  after  the  local  Commer- 
cial Club,  and  provides  for  active,  associate,  and  honor- 
ary membership.  At  each  meeting  there  is  a  formal 
program,  including  a  short  address  by  some  representa- 
tive business  man,  and  an  open  discussion  upon  some 


224  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Within  hearing  distance,  within  touching  distance — that  is  easy; 
how  many  live  all  their  lives  in  the  same  house  and  never  get  within 
helping  distance. — Amos   R.   Wells. 

civic  question.  The  club  is  vocational  in  its  character, 
and  has,  as  its  objective,  to  guide  boys  into  congenial 
employment.  During  the  social  hour  refreshments  are 
served  and  fun  provided. — E.  Fagenstrom,  St.  Paul, 
Minn. 


241.     A  SMILE  CLUB 

A  Smile  Club  is  making  a  hit  at  Childress,  Texas. 
The  members  wear  a  cheerful  red  badge  on  which  is 
the  one  word  "Smile."  The  motto  is,  "Quit  knocking 
and  smile."  Life  membership  is  ten  cents.  At  a 
popular  series  of  Saturday  night  illustrated  talks 
members  are  caricatured,  announcements  made  on 
canvas,  hymns  illustrated  and  sung,  and  for  closing 
there  is  a  twenty-minute  talk  on  "The  Life  of  Christ." 
The  talks  will  be  given  out  of  doors  later. 

242.     THE  JUNIOR   CATHOLIC   KNIGHTS 

"The  Junior  Catholic  Knights"  is  a  social  organiza- 
tion within  the  boys'  department  at  West  Side,  Cleve- 
land. Quite  a  large  proportion  of  the  members  in 
the  department  are  Roman  Catholic  boys.  The  request 
for  this  club  came  from  the  boys  themselves. 


GAMPS  AND  OUTINGS* 

Contrary  to  the  opinion  of  some  Association  lead- 
ers, the  summer  furnishes  a  splendid  opportunity  for 
work  along  social  lines.  The  opportunity  is  not  limited 
to  the  large  city  centers,  nor  to  Associations  with  a 
large  membership.  Frequently,  Associations  located 
in  the  smaller  fields  are  able  to  do  a  more  telling  work 
socially,  during  the  summer  season,  than  is  found 
possible  by  the  larger  Associations. 

The  following  are  a  few  of  the  things  that  may  be 
successfully  undertaken  by  the  average  city  Associa- 
tion. They  do  not  include  the  ordinary  social  work 
conducted  in  the  buildings : 

243.     OVERNIGHT  CAMPING  PARTY 

ON   THE  EVENING  OF   MEMORIAL  DAY,   1906 

Most  of  the  party  were  green  as  the  spring  grass  by 
the  brookside  as  far  as  camping  out  was  concerned. 
Not  more  than  half  a  dozen  had  ever  had  the  chance 
to  become  reconciled  to  the  uncertain  comfort  of  a 
springless  bed  on  the  ground,  or  to  be  initiated  into 
the  mysterious  pleasure  of  sleeping  under  the  open 
sky.  But  they  had  been  clamoring  for  a  place  on  the 
list,  days  before;  boys  just  entering  the  department, 
enthusiastic,  ready-for-anything,  whose  mothers  were 
not  quite  at  rest  about  "these  strange  night  affairs" 
until  they  had  interviewed  the  secretary;  as  well  as 
youths  dignified  and  eighteen,  looking  with  good- 
natured  tolerance  upon  the  lively  smaller  animal. 

The  invitation  had  read  something  like  this : 

Dear  Long-legged  Dick: 

The  Overnight  Campers'  party,  limited  to  .thirty,  will  leave 
town  on  Tuesday  afternoon,  May  29,  at  four  o'clock,  to  camp 

and  sleep  on mountain.     The  first  thirty  who  register 

and  pay  the  twenty-five-cent  fee  will  make  up  the  party.     The 


*  Write  Association  Boys,   124   East  28th   Street,  New  York  City,   for 
other  articles  on  camps  and  camping. 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS  227 

Wholesome  exercise  in  the  free  air,  under  the  wide  sky,  is  the  best 
medicine  for  body  and  spirit. — Sarah  Louise  Arnold. 

quarter  will  entitle  you  to  supper,  breakfast  and  dinner  cooked 
in  the  woods.  Each  campologist  must  carry  his  own  spoon 
and  tin  cup.  In  addition  bring  a  heavy  double  blanket  or 
quilt,  a  sweater,  if  you  like,  and  something  of  rubber  for 
spreading  over  the  ground  to  sleep  on.  We  insist  on  the 
rubber.  A  night  in  the  open  will  make  you  sizzle  with  new 
life,  put  a  cake-walk  in  your  step,  drive  dull  care  from  your 
system  and  raise  you  to  the  top  notch  of  good  nature  and 
bouncing  health. 

Away  to  the  mountains !  and  hurrah  for  freedom  and  a 
huge  appetite !  Let  the  weak  hug  their  firesides,  but  ye,  O 
Mollusks  of  Muscle  and  Brawn,  emerge  from  your  confining 
shells  to  learn  the  ways  and  songs  of  nature.  Assemble,  then, 
at  the  rendezvous  known  as  the  Association  at  four  o'clock 
sharp,  on  Tuesday,  the  29th  day  of  May. 

The  corner  grocery  supplied  the  larder  with  an 
ample  store  of  eatables  and  cookables,  taking  almost 
to  the  last  penny  the  fund  from  the  twenty-five-cent 
fees. 

The  floor  of  the  boys'  room  is  now  covered  with 
woolen  and  rubber  blankets,  and  many  other  things. 
The  boys  have  been  particular  about  the  rubber. 
Some  have  brought  a  sister's  waterproof,  a  piece  of 
a  carriage  cover,  or  several  yards  of  common  oilcloth. 
Veteran  campers  are  giving  instructions  in  the  way 
of  rolling  blankets  and  ponchos  into  the  loop  for  carry- 
ing. Each  shoulders  his  pack  and  then  endeavors  to 
add  thereto  a  goodly  share  of  the  provisions,  but,  try 
as  we  will,  we  cannot  find  hands  and  backs  enough  to 
hold  the  forty  loaves  of  bread,  cans  of  soup,  beans, 
corn,  cocoa,  and  condensed  milk,  butter,  sugar,  flour, 
jam,  chipped  beef  and  a  large  bunch  of  bananas. 

Jimmie  suggests  that  he  can  rent  a  horse  and  wagon 
from  the  Park  stables  for  $2.50,  and  offers  to  carry 
our  luggage  over  the  three  miles  to  its  destination. 
This  solves  the  problem,  and  leaving  the  food,  loops, 
jackets,  hats,  and  everything  else  superfluous  in  the 
conveyance  with  the  doughty  James,  the  wild  tribe 
streams  up  the  main  street  and  all  the  boys  are  soon 
climbing  the  long  hill,  free  from  the  restraint  of  the 
town  and  feeling  that  the  world  is  theirs. 


228  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Ever   charming,   ever  new, 

When  will  the  landscape  tire  the  view? — Dyer. 

Only  a  few  of  the  leaders  notice  that  the  sky  is  not 
too  promising"  in  the  north,  but  the  boys'  spirits  run 
high  as  they  toss  a  ball  to  each  other  and  pry  into 
brooks  along  the  road.  The  frequent  cry  of  "lobster" 
means  nothing  but  that  one  of  the  common  brook  cray- 
fish has  been  found.  We  look  over  from  the  bridges 
and  watch  the  fish  in  the  deep  pools.  Numbers  of 
small  spiders  settle  down  on  us  from  the  air  as  we 
"shortcut"  it  through  a  green  field.  They  alight  on 
our  hats  and  shoulders,  and  we  can  feel  the  webs  brush 
across  our  faces.  No  one  thinks  it  very  strange  till 
a  "bugalist"  in  the  crowd  informs  us  that  they  are 
"ballooning  spiders"  and  fly  or  float  on  the  breeze 
through  the  buoyancy  of  several  long  thread  streamers 
drawn  out  from  their  wonderful  spinnerets.  Then  we 
are  all  interested  at  once  and  look  to  find  that  it  is 
indeed  so. 

Taking  the  luggage  from  the  wagon  and  following 
the  rail  fence  up  the  slope,  we  cross  a  marshy  place 
and  reach  the  tall  timber  and  the  high,  open  ground, 
still  brown  with  quantities  of  last  year's  leaves. 

Although  the  sun  will  not  set  for  two  hours  yet, 
these  restless  children  of  the  town,  with  natural 
instinct,  rush  to  prepare  for  night  and  make  their  beds. 
Each  stakes  out  his  claim  of  six  by  three  and  plunks 
his  bedding  thereon.  They  bunch  up  in  pairs  and 
groups  and  for  the  next  fifteen  minutes,  from  out 
blanket-tents  and  leafy  bowers,  are  heard  words  of 
wonderful  plans  and  excited  discussions  of  weighty 
household  matters. 

Cans  of  beans  with  punctured  lids  are  heating  by  the 
fire  and  a  creamy  mess  of  something  or  other  is  ready. 
There  is  no  cloth  to  spread  and  no  dishes  to  arrange; 
and  at  the  sound  of  the  whistle  they  scuttle  from  the 
woods,  pounce  out  of  their  lairs  or  drop  like  fruit  from 
the  nearby  trees.  The  absence  of  plates  does  not 
inconvenience  things.  A  slice  of  bread  makes  a  good 
receptacle  for  a  great  spoonful  of  beans  or  corned  beef, 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS  229 

She  paints  with  white  and  red   the  moors 
To   draw  the  nations  out   of  doors. — Emerson. 

and,  with  jam,  is  a  good  substitute  for  cake.  All  are 
loud  in  their  explosions  of  delight.  Only  the  night  is 
calm — and  the  leaders,  anxiously  counting  the  dimin- 
ishing loaves,  suggest  that  dessert  be  interposed. 

An  interesting  souvenir  or  two  has  been  collected,  a 
bit  of  birch  bark,  a  walking  stick,  or  perhaps  a  red 
salamander.  Some  one  brings  forward  a  curious, 
hairy,  ball-shaped  something  like  a  cocoon.  We 
cautiously  pry  into  it  and  find  delicate  bits  of  bone,  then 
two  leg  bones  with  the  ball  joint,  a  skull  with  tiny 
yellow  teeth  and  the  fine  hair  enveloping  all.  It  must 
be,  yes,  it  is  the  remains  of  a  mouse. 

Our  naturalist  comes  to  our  rescue  and  calls  it  an 
"owl-pellet."  "All  birds  of  prey,"  says  he,  "swallow 
their  food  without  chewing.  Of  course  the  bones  and 
hair  cannot  be  digested  although  everything  else  is, 
and  after  a  day  or  so,  the  remains  of  the  poor  creature 
are  coughed  up  in  the  form  you  see  before  you." 

Darkness  draws  us  close  together  around  the  fire, 
and  the  dancing  flames  and  bubbling  kettle  of  molasses 
are  certainly  pleasant  things  to  watch.  We  are  intent 
upon  the  ghost  story.  The  poisoned  needle  is  just 
about  to  drop,  when,  "Boom !"  comes  a  heavy  peal  of 
thunder  and  from  the  black  cloud  above  large  drops 
splash  on  our  uncovered  heads.  We  scramble  madly 
for  our  belongings  and  rush  to  a  nearby  barn.  No 
banquet  hall  was  ever  so  quickly  deserted,  and,  pretty 
wrell  soaked,  we  pick  our  way  carefully  through  the 
pasture  road  and  cow-yard  and  under  the  hospitable 
roof. 

It  takes  fully  ten  minutes  for  the  restless  ones  to  try 
all  parts  of  the  barn  floor  before  they  are  composed  for 
the  night,  and,  even  then,  we  discover  that  the  shingles 
leak  and  it  is  only  a  question  of  whether  we  prefer  the 
drip  in  our  faces  or  somewhere  else. 

The  candle  is  blown  out  and  the  climax  of  the  ghost 
story  is  very  realistic  amid  the  crashing  thunder  and 
black  darkness.     However,  the  clouds  soon  pass  and 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS  231 

Blessed  in  all  tongues  and  dear  to  every  blood, 

The  beautiful,  the  strong,  and,  best  of  all,  the  good.— Lowell. 

the  moon  peeps  out.  Some  one  has  risen  to  his  feet 
and  leads  in  the  devotional  service.  We  cannot  see 
him,  but  his  words  are  true  and  comforting.  Prayers 
over,  we  cuddle  down  and  seek  rest  in  oblivion,  for 
tomorrow  we  shall  meet  another  party  of  thirty  or 
more  brother  trampers,  and,  with  coming  dreams,  we 
picture  to  ourselves  the  morning  baseball  game  and  the 
long  afternoon  swim  in  the  cool  river,  five  miles  away. 
—Arthur  Wilson,  Boys'  Secretary,  Orange,  N.  J. 

244.     THE  "BOYS'  OWN  TOUR" 

A    TEN    DAYS'    VACATION    TRIP    OF   VALUE   TO    FORTY    BOYS 

CONDUCTED  BY  THE  COUNTY  COMMITTEE  OF  YOUNG 

MEN'S     CHRISTIAN     ASSOCIATIONS     OF     ONEIDA 

COUNTY,    JULY    27-AUGUST    5,    1909 

With  almost  the  precision  of  the  great  ocean  liners, 
the  good  ship  City  of  Rome  with  her  jolly  cargo  of 
sunburned  boys  and  leaders  steamed  to  the  John  Street 
dock  in  Utica  at  one  o'clock  on  Thursday,  August  5. 
Not  an  accident  to  mar  the  pleasure  or  to  cause  regrets 
for  having  taken  the  trip,  made  it  possible  for  the  boys 
to  shout  with  great  enthusiasm  the  familiar  cry : 

Rip-it-ty  Rah  Hurrah  !     Hurrah  ! 

Rip-it-ty  Ray  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
We're  all  right,  we're  out  of  sight. 

Oneida  County  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

The  last  real  gathering  for  the  final  "talk  over"  of 
the  trip  was  at  chapel  during  the  morning.  Each  day 
soon  after  breakfast  the  chaplain,  Rev.  D.  L.  Roberts, 
would  direct  the  thoughts  of  the  boys  to  higher  things, 
not  with  a  sermon,  but  by  drawing  splendid  and  timely 
illustrations  from  some  portion  of  Scripture  which  was 
read  together.  At  times  this  gathering  was  on  shore, 
but  at  other  times  the  main  deck  was  used  for  that 
purpose.  At  the  time  of  this  last  gathering  the  boys 
responded  to  a  suggestion  and  told  what  had  appealed 


232  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Tact  is  not  the  quality  by  which  you  often  please,  but  by  which  you 
seldom  offend. — Rollins. 

to  them  most  on  the  tour.  "Going  to  bed"  so-called, 
was  a  unique  part  of  the  program.  Not  once  were  we 
confined  to  the  deck;  usually  part  were  bunked  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  boat,  but  more  could  be  seen  selecting 
good  places  to  put  their  bunks.  Good  weather  made 
it  possible  to  sleep  outdoors  every  night. 

At  Albany  this  party  of  forty-five,  including  leaders 
and  boys,  abandoned  the  City  of  Rome  for  a  whole 
day  to  sail  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  on  the  beauti- 
ful Hudson.  The  trip  from  Albany  to  Kingston  on 
the  Robert  Fulton  was  the  "best  ever,"  and  remained 
so  until  the  return  on  the  larger  boat,  Hendrick  Hud- 
son. Kingston  was  the  turning  point.  That  city  was 
seen  by  trolley.  Brief  stops  were  made  at  Catskill  and 
Hudson.  A  special  permit  was  given  by  the  captain 
of  the  night  line  steamer,  C.  W.  Morse,  to  inspect 
the  boat,  which  was  done  properly  by  our  party,  forty- 
five  strong,  going  in  a  single  column  from  bow  to  stern, 
top  to  bottom. 

Among  the  most  interesting  places  visited  were  the 
great  American  Locomotive  Works,  Union  College,  the 
General  Electric  Plant  in  Schenectady;  the  Capitol 
Building,  Governor's  mansion  in  Albany;  Rensselaer 
Polytechnic  Institute  at  Troy;  and  Beachnut  Bacon 
Factory  at  Canajoharie.  Fine  souvenirs  were  given  to 
each  one  in  the  party,  in  several  places,  and  besides 
these  many  pictures  were  taken  by  the  half  dozen  or 
more  boys  who  had  their  cameras.  Prizes  were 
awarded  for  the  first  and  second  best  pictures  taken 
by  the  boys. 

While  in  camp  in  a  grove  at  Vischers'  Ferry,  six 
miles  from  Schenectady,  a  field  meet  was  arranged 
with  events  suitable  for  the  boys  of  different  ages ; 
these  included  dashes,  runs,  ball  throwing  and  tug-of- 
war.  The  mess  which  had  the  greatest  number  of 
points  to  their  credit  ate  a  large  watermelon,  more  to 
their  enjoyment  than  to  that  of  the  other  three  messes 
which  had  worked  hard  but  had  been  fairly  beaten. 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS  233 

So  teach  us  to  number  our  days  that  we  may  apply  our  hearts  unto 
wisdom. — Bible. 

The  camp  at  Vischers'  Ferry  will  never  be  for- 
gotten, for  it  was  there  that  one  of  the  leaders  noticed 
half  a  flint  spearhead  protruding  from  the  roots  of 
a  medium-sized  oak  tree.  Upon  searching  in  the 
ground  a  remarkable  bed  of  spearheads  was  un- 
earthed, and  about  fifteen  perfect  ones  were  found, 
besides  more  than  fifty  broken  pieces. 

One  old  man  of  eighty-three  years,  a  resident  of 
the  neighborhood,  recalled  some  wandering  Mohawk 
Indians  in  that  section  when  he  was  a  boy,  but  the 
supposition  is  that  this  store  had  lain  undisturbed  for 
a  hundred  years  or  more.  The  young  oak  had  con- 
cealed the  point  of  one  of  the  finest  specimens,  and 
had  so  grown  that  the  flint  was  raised,  else  perhaps 
this  workmanship  would  never  have  come  to  light. 

The  trip  was  carefully  planned  a  long  time  ahead. 
Arrangements  were  made  with  the  Boards  of  Trade  in 
the  cities  visited,  by  which  some  splendid  sight-seeing 
trips  were  possible.  A  hearty  cooperation  was  also 
given  by  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations 
visited.  The  city  of  Troy,  including  the  Watervliet 
Arsenal,  was  visited  in  company  with  one  of  the  Troy 
secretaries,  while  Albany  was  seen  under  the  direction 
of  the  general  secretary.  It  was  a  new  idea,  but  it 
worked  well  and  was  popular.  The  idea  caught,  as 
was  proven  by  the  articles  which  appeared  in  various 
parts  of  the  country ;  even  a  month  after  the  trip  it 
was  still  being  favorably  mentioned. 

245.     MOTORING  CARNIVAL 

The  general  committee  was  organized  under  the 
name  of  The  International  Touring  Company.  We 
had  all  the  officers  of  a  full-fledged  company,  such  as 
president,  vice-presidents  (people  of  influence  in  the 
town,  but  not  expected  to  do  much  work),  secretary, 
treasurer,  general  superintendent,  general  passenger 
agent,  etc.  Each  officer  did  the  work  ordinarily  per- 
formed by  such  officers  in  large  railroad  companies. 


234 


SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 


Winter    abroad,    summer    in    the    barn, 

Autumn    in    the    cellar,    and    spring    in    the    heart. 

They  had,  of  course,  a  great  many  helpers  with  various 
titles,  such  as  station-master,  yard-master,  master- 
mechanic,  etc. 

The  company  advertised  a  trip  around  the  world  in 
sixty  minutes  by  special  automobile  service.  We  had 
six  stations.  These  stations  were  homes  with  spacious 
lawns,     and     were     decorated    to     represent     various 


Fishing  Hike 


countries,  such  as  Spain,  China,  Turkey,  etc.,  or, 
rather,  a  city  of  those  countries.  We  were  particular 
to  lay  out  our  route  so  that  cars  would  not  be  going 
back  and  forth  on  the  same  road.  We  also  had  the 
route  very  carefully  marked  with  large  red  arrows, 
and  had  it  patrolled  at  all  dangerous  or  semi-dan- 
gerous places. 

One  committee  visited  the  friends  of  the  Associa- 
tion and  secured  the  loan  of  automobiles  for  the  day, 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS  235 

How  far  that  little  candle  throws  his  beams, 

So  shines  a  good  deed  in  a  naughty  world.— Shakespeare. 

or  as  much  of  the  day  as  the  people  were  willing  to 
loan  their  machines  with  their  own  drivers.  When 
the  cars  reported  at  the  central  station,  a  large  number 
and  a  flag  was  given  to  each  so  that  it  could  be  easily 
picked  out  from  among  the  visiting  cars  that  were  not 
in  the  company.  The  numbers  made  it  possible  to 
identify  any  car  quickly  if  an  owner  wished  to  know 
about  where  his  car  was,  or  in  case  of  difficulty.  We 
had  a  repair  car  at  the  terminal  station  ready  to  go  out 
at  a  moment's  notice.  Each  station  was  connected  by 
special  telephone  wire  with  the  terminal  station,  and 
all  affairs  were  controlled  from  that  station  by  the 
general  officers  placed  there. 

The  ladies  took  charge  of  the  stations ;  that  is,  they 
dressed  in  the  costumes  of  the  country  and  had  booths 
with  articles  peculiar  to  each  country  for  sale.  No 
article  was  offered  for  sale  that  cost  over  twenty-five 
cents  The  homes  were  used  only  by  the  committees 
in  charge  of  the  different  countries.  There  was  a 
committee  of  men  at  each  station  to  see  to  the  loading 
and  unloading  of  the  cars,  and  to  see  that  no  one  mis- 
used the  cars  or  grounds. 

We  had  an  elaborate  guidebook,  well  edited  to  make 

it  a  book  that  all  would  want.     The  tickets  were  the 

regulation  tourist  tickets,  and  were  furnished  free  by 

the  railroad  company,  printed  on  their  special  ticket 

paper.     This  made  them  a  good  ad  for  the  company 

and  helped  us.     The  general  plan  was  to  make  the  ads 

in    the    guidebook    and    the    station    profits    pay    all 

expenses,   thus  having  the   money   from   the   sale   of 

tickets    clear.     This    was    very    nearly    accomplished. 

We  advertised  in  all  the  surrounding  towns,  and  the 

city  papers  gave  us  fine  "write  ups"  ;  hence,  we  had 

such  crowds  that  we  were  almost  mobbed,  and  had  to 

stop  the  sale  of  tickets  three  hours  after  the  carnival 

started,   even  though  the  carnival   continued  another 

six  hours. 

Supper  was   furnished  to  the   drivers   at  a  central 


236  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

It  is  easy  to  give  a  confidence,  but  it  is  impossible  to  buy  it  back. 
— The   Saturday    Evening   Post. 

place  (the  terminal  station).  The  cars  were  taken  off 
two  or  three  at  a  time  in  order  that  the  transportation 
of  passengers  might  not  cease. 

There  are  many  other  important  details  which  will 
be  furnished  to  any  one  communicating  with  the 
General  Secretary,  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Madison,  Wis. 

246.     A  SUMMER  RECREATION  RALLY 

I  shall  relate  an  experience  rather  than  present  a 
philosophy,  though  the  experience  contains  an  impor- 
tant principle — namely,  that  the  best  way  to  create 
interest  is  through  democracy.  Members  enjoy  what 
they  initiate. 

We  decided,  in  the  Association  with  which  I  was 
identified,  to  create  unusual  interest  in  summer  recrea- 
tion. To  this  end  we  announced  a  "Summer  Recrea- 
tion Rally."  An  interesting  speaker  on  "How  to 
Enjoy  a  Vacation,"  was  secured  for  a  short  address. 
His  name  was  sufficient  to  create  interest.  The  meet- 
ing was  held  in  the  large  auditorium.  This  was  a 
suggestion  that  we  expected  a  crowd.  Another  man 
of  prominence  was  asked  to  preside.  The  stage  was 
decorated  to  indicate  summer  vacation.  A  tent  was 
pitched ;  a  make-believe  campfire  was  produced ;  ath- 
letic paraphernalia,  such  as  fishing  nets  and  poles,  a 
canoe,  tennis  rackets,  ball  bats,  golf,  etc.,  were  used 
for  decoration. 

Before  the  time  of  the  program  we  issued  cards  to 
the  members  asking  them  to  check  the  particular  sports 
in  which  they  were  interested  and  return  them  at  least 
two  weeks  before  the  night  of  the  rally.  On  these 
cards  we  named  all  of  the  conceivable  sports  which 
the  community  might  afford.  This  list  included  track 
and  field  sports,  tennis,  baseball,  rambling,  camera 
club,  horseback  riding,  surf  bathing,  boating,  tug  boat 
trips,  trolley  rides,  golf.  We  hadn't  the  least  idea  how 
we  would  provide  many  of  these,  but  we  were  willing 
to  make  an  inventorv  of  the  members'  desires. 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS. 


237 


As  love  will  often  make  a  wise  man  act  like  a  fool,  so  will  interest 
often  make  a  fool  act  like  a  wise  man. — Greville. 

When  the  cards  were  collected  we  classified  the 
lists.  Then  we  called  meetings  of  the  different  groups. 
For  illustration,  a  dozen  men  wanted  golf-  We 
called  them  together  to  discuss  how  golf  might  be 
provided.  The  Association  had  no  golf  grounds  and 
could  not  afford  them.  A  committee  was  appointed 
from  the  group  to  investigate  the  city  and  to  find  what 
the  city  had  to  offer  in  grounds  and  to  report  at  the 


A  House  Boat  Party 


rally.  Similarly  other  groups  were  called  together  and 
sent  out  to  find  places  and  to  report  definite  methods. 
And  they  succeeded  admirably.  The  golfers  found 
splendid  golf  links  furnished  free  by  the  city  and 
organized  the  group  to  play  on  them.  The  boating 
group  found  they  could  secure  special  rates  at  the 
park  if  tickets  were  bought  in  quantities.  The  athletic 
group  found  an  athletic  park  which  could  be  secured 
for  $100  and  they  secured  the  money  by  issuing  ath- 
letic park  tickets  at  $1  to  100  interested  members. 


238  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

A  man  of  one  idea  spells  it  with  a  big  I. — The  Saturday  Evening  Post. 

All  these  groups  reported  on  rally  night.  First,  the 
orchestra  played,  the  address  was  given,  and  stereopti- 
con  views  of  Silver  Bay,  Lake  George,  of  the  local 
and  state  camps  for  boys  and  pictures  of  local  athletes 
were  shown.  Then  came  the  reports,  after  which  the 
groups  got  together,  organized  and  made  plans.  These 
were  launched  enthusiastically,  because  the  members 
made  the  enterprise  possible  and  we  had  a  splendid 
season  of  many  activities. — George  J.  Fisher,  M.  D. 

247.     AN  ELECTION  DAY  OUTING 

An  election  day  outing  on  a  mammoth  scale  was  con- 
ducted by  the  combined  boys'  departments  of  Greater 
New  York.  Over  five  hundred  boys  were  taken  in  a 
special  train  of  cars  to  Boonton,  N.  J.,  where  they  had 
a  royal  good  time.  The  careful  management  of  the 
outing  reflects  great  credit  on  those  who  had  it  in 
charge.  Every  precaution  was  taken  to  prevent  con- 
fusion or  accident.  A  neat  folder  giving  in  detail  all 
the  plans  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  every  boy,  so  he 
knew  before  starting  just  what  to  expect.  The  trans- 
portation company  had  every  car  in  the  train  labeled 
when  the  boys  arrived,  and  the  members  of  each 
branch  went  immediately  to  the  car  assigned  to  them. 
Boys  were  not  allowed  on  the  car  platforms  when  the 
train  was  in  motion,  and  there  was  consequently  no 
passing  from  one  car  to  another  en  route.  On  arriving 
at  the  Boonton  station,  each  department  under  leader- 
ship formed  five  abreast  in  the  road  and  inarched  a 
mile  and  a  half  to  the  tall  timber.  Here  they  found 
that  the  advance  party  had  twelve  wash  boilers  al- 
ready on  the  fire  and  the  cocoa  making  was  in  progress. 
No  human  voice  was  ever  made  that  could  be  heard 
above  the  noise  of  five  hundred  of  New  York's 
noisiest,  but  the  admirable  forethought  of  the  com- 
mittee was  again  in  evidence.  High  on  eleven  trees 
were  nailed  the  names  of  the  eleven  boys'  departments 
and  the  boys  of  each  clustered  about  their  respective 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS  239 

Take    the    world    as   you    eat   fish — spit    out   the    bones. — Anon. 

trees  and  began  a  vigorous  attack  on  their  lunch  boxes. 
Cocoa  checks  had  been  sold  for  three  cents  each  or 
two  for  five,  and  to  the  leader  of  each  group  a  large 
boiler  of  cocoa  was  delivered.  The  boys  of  these 
groups  formed  in  line,  passed  in  their  checks,  and  re- 
ceived their  stint  of  the  hot  drink.  After  lunch  a 
varied  program  was  in  order  and  each  boy  was  at 
liberty  to  go  with  any  bunch  he  wished.  A  red  flag 
was  placed  in  a  certain  spot  and  all  who  wanted  base- 
ball flocked  to  it.  The  white  flag  meant  football ;  the 
yellow  flag,  carnival  of  sports ;  the  green  flag,  hare  and 
hounds ;  the  red  and  white  flag,  tramps  for  birds ;  the 
red  and  yellow  flag,  tramps  for  trees ;  the  blue  flag, 
tramps  for  rocks;  the  black  flag,  photographers;  the 
American  flag,  explorers ;  and  the  red  cross  flag,  the 
ambulance  and  hospital  corps.  One  boy  cut  his  finger 
on  a  tin  can  and  was  hustled  off  to  the  ambulance.  The 
four  volunteer  doctors  had  their  first  and  only  case 
that  day.  Every  boy  wore  a  tag  bearing  his  name  and 
the  name  of  his  department.  These  served  the  pur- 
poses of  an  introduction  and  added  much  to  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  party.  There  were  whistles  and  mega- 
phones and  signals  to  be  used  in  case  of  any  kind  of 
emergency,  and,  in  a  word,  everything  seemed  to  have 
been  thought  out  beforehand,  thus  there  was  no  hitch, 
no  confusion,  no  dissatisfaction.  It  is  quite  an  achieve- 
ment to  take  five  hundred  or  more  New  York  boys  into 
the  woods  on  election  clay  and  bring  them  all  back  safe 
and  sound,  clothed  and  in  their  right  minds. 

248.     CLEVELAND  ROUGH  RIDERS 

The  club  was  organized  for  the  purpose  of  making 
an  annual  educational  tour.  In  the  four  years  of  its 
existence  it  has  traveled  about  3,000  miles  and  visited 
Chautauqua,  Niagara  Falls,  Toronto,  the  Thousand 
Islands,  Montreal,  Detroit  and  Mackinac  Island.  The 
trips  have  been  in  parties  numbering  from  thirteen  to 
thirty-three. 


240  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

There  will  be  glorious  sociability  in  heaven. — Amos  R.  Wells. 

A  trip  usually  takes  from  one  week  to  ten  days  and 
costs  from  ten  to  twenty  dollars.  We  secure  reason- 
able rates  of  transportation.  Thus  far  we  have  trav- 
eled by  boat  and  wheel  and  find  this  a  good  combina- 
tion. While  the  boat  is  loading  and  unloading  we  are 
able,  with  the  use  of  our  wheels,  to  "do"  the  town. 
When  traveling  by  wheels  we  carry  small  pup  tents 
and  blankets,  and  camp  wherever  night  overtakes  us. 

Our  officers  are :  captain,  first  and  second  lieutenant, 
aide-de-camp,  chaplain,  and  bugler.  Applications  to 
join  the  party  are  voted  upon,  but  applicants  are  not 
considered  members  of  the  club  until  they  have  made 
one  of  the  annual  trips  and  have  been  initiated. 

The  evenings  on  deck  and  in  camp  are  long  to  be 
remembered.  Evening  devotion  is  conducted  at  nine 
o'clock,  usually  by  one  or  more  of  the  boys. 

We  have  an  annual  reunion  and  banquet,  at  which 
the  boys  make  speeches,  recalling  many  of  the  interest- 
ing incidents  of  the  various  campaigns.  Some  of  the 
members  are  away  at  college.  These  write  letters  to 
be  read  at  the  annual  gathering.  It  has  been  interest- 
ing to  watch  the  growth  of  some  of  the  friendships 
formed  during  these  outings. 

If  I  were  to  offer  any  suggestions  to  those  interested 
in  a  like  enterprise,  they  would  be  these :  Don't  get  the 
idea  that  the  leaders  are  going  to  have  a  lark ;  it  will 
mean  work  with  a  capital  "W."  Arrange  details 
before  starting.  Know  where  you  will  be  each  day 
and  night,  what  the  accommodations  will  be,  and  the 
cost.  Then  expect  emergencies  and  be  ready  to  meet 
them.  Have  a  congenial  party,  do  not  allow  too  great 
a  difference  in  ages,  and  leave  the  "baby"  at  home. 
Have  plenty  of  adult  help,  at  least  one  man  for  every 
ten  boys.  Let  the  boys  know  they  are  going  to  rough 
it  and  don't  be  bothered  with  "store  clothes"  or  super- 
fluous baggage.  Limit  the  amount  of  spending  money. 
Don't  make  the  party  too  large.  Don't  start  with  a 
"tough"  in  the  party.  Don't  tolerate  firearms,  tobacco 
or  profanity. 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS 


241 


Not  doing  wrong  is   not  doing  right. — The  Saturday  Evening  Post. 

Games,  entertainments,  athletics  and  impromptu 
social  functions  may  be  worked  with  the  program  to 
good  advantage.  Boys  of  any  stateroom  or  tent  may 
be  "at  home,"  receive  callers,  entertain  and  serve  light 
refreshments. 

The  arrangement  for  Sunday  services  should  be 
given  special  attention. — M.  D.  Crack  el,  Cleveland 
{West),  Ohio,  Association  Boys,  Vol.  I.,  No.  2. 


Ready  for  a  Sail,  Yacht  Amazon 


249.     A  SEA  TRIP 

The  beautiful  schooner  Amazon,  which  belongs  to 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  New  York 
City,"  and  which  measures  one  hundred  and  eight  feet 
over  all,  ninety  feet  on  water  line,  and  twenty-one  feet 
beam,  was  at  the  disposal  of  a  party  of  Harlem  boys 
for  a  cruise  of  two  weeks  last   summer.     She  is   a 


242  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

A  boy's  will  is  the  wind's  will, 

And    the   thoughts   of  youth   are    long,    long   thoughts. — Longfellow. 

splendidly  built,  staunch  craft,  and  exceptionally  sea- 
worthy; has  a  flush  deck,  mahogany  cabin  houses, 
bright  spars,  new  sails,  and  is  every  inch  a  yacht.  She 
is  fitted  with  a  large  lounging  room  with  piano,  a  large 
dining  saloon,  four  staterooms,  a  commodious  galley, 
a  roomy  forecastle  and  toilet.  All  rooms  below  deck 
are  finished  in  hard  wood  and  are  well  ventilated  and 
comfortable.  The  builder  said,  "She  is  well  able  to 
travel  around  the  world." 

The  party  met  at  New  Rochelle  in  the  morning,  full 
of  expectation,  and  started  an  hour  later  on  their  trip, 
going  to  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  and  thence  to  New 
London.  Leaving  New  London  the  next  day  the  party 
went  ashore  at  Pleasure  Beach,  and  the  day  was  spent 
in  tramping,  playing  baseball,  and  bathing,  going  back 
to  the  yacht  for  lunch  and  dinner. 

The  next  day  they  set  sail  for  New  Rochelle  and 
made  the  entire  distance,  in  a  stiff  breeze,  in  twelve 
hours.  The  fast  sailing  was  exhilarating  and  was 
voted  to  be  the  best  day  of  the  trip.  The  party 
anchored  off  New  Rochelle  that  night,  but  most  of 
them  remained  aboard  and  went  home  the  next  morn- 
ing. 

On  the  trip  the  boys  picked  up  some  knowledge  of 
nautical  terms,  and  became  somewhat  familiar  with 
the  handling  of  a  boat.  The  experiment  thoroughly 
justified  itself  and  is  worthy  of  repetition. — Associa- 
tion Boys,  Vol.  VI.,  No.  3. 

250.     MAROONING  PARTIES 

Marooning  parties  were  conducted  last  year  by  the 
boys'  department  of  Lynn,  Mass.  Their  announce- 
ment read  as  follows :  "Every  boy  must  take  a  tin  cup, 
a  big  lunch  and  a  heavy  blanket.  Scouts  will  carry 
coffee,  sugar  and  a  large  coffee  pot.  We  prepare  our 
own  supper  and  stay  all  night,  camping  among  the 
pines,  Indian  fashion,  sleeping  by  a  campfire,  with  our 
boots    on.     Every    boy    should    dress    warmly.     Two 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS  243 

For  blessings  ever  wait  on  virtuous  deeds, 

And  though  a  late,  a  sure  reward  succeeds. — William  Congreve. 

blankets  can  be  carried  on  the  wheel  easily.  These 
marooning  parties  will  be  held  weekly.  If  you  believe 
in  ghosts,  don't  go." 

Concerning  these  parties  the  one  in  charge  writes: 
"We  had  some  difficulty  with  mosquitoes,  but,  barring 
that,  they  were  interesting  and  met  the  desires  of  the 
boys.  We  had  about  a  dozen  (boys,  not  mosquitoes) 
on  these  trips."  Are  there  not  secretaries  and  com- 
mitteemen who,  though  they  do  not  care  to  undertake 
a  boys'  camp,  would  like  to  spend  a  series  of  Friday 
nights  in  the  woods  with  the  boys  about  the  campfire  ? 
Is^not  this  a  rare  opportunity  to  get  down  .where  the 
boy  really  lives  and  establish  a  comradeship  with  him 
in  the  experiences  which  so  appeal  to  him,  and  open 
the  way  for  a  comradeship  in  experiences  which  you 
enjoy  and  deem  so  important?  May  not  a  marooning 
party  in  the  hands  of  a  wise  man  result  in  untold  good 
for  the  boys  who  attend,  while,  on  the  other  hand, 
could  there  be  a  greater  opportunity  for  evil  if  this 
marooning  party  were  in  the  hands  of  either  an  in- 
competent or  an  unworthy  man? — E.  M.  R.  in  Asso- 
ciation Boys,  Vol.  L,  No.  2. 

251.     EVENING  FUN 

The  evenings  in  camp  are  made  attractive  by  con- 
ducting entertainments,  mock  trials,  practical  talks  and 
games.  In  every  group  of  campers  is  talent  that 
should  be  made  use  of,  and  the  boys  are  ever  ready  to 
take  part  in  a  "show,"  whether  it  be  a  minstrel,  circus, 
graduation  of  the  district  school,  or  election  of  the 
Mayor  of  Wawayanda.  On  several  occasions  the 
campers  have  had  great  excitement  over  the  reports 
of  the  International  Yacht  Races.  Two  small  yachts 
were  tied  by  cord  and  run  across  a  wire,  high  enough 
for  all  to  see.  One  boy  would  serve  as  operator  of  the 
wireless  telegraph  by  making  the  sound  of  the  instru- 
ment with  a  knife  on  a  dinner  plate.     Another  boy 


244 


SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 


Every   right  action  and   true  thought  sets  the   seal   of  its   beauty   on 
the  person  and  the  face. — Ruskin. 

would  act  as  messenger  and  a  third  camper  would 
manipulate  the  yacht  as  the  reports  were  announced 
by  one  of  the  company  through  a  megaphone.  The 
campers  would  be  divided  into  two  countries,  and  songs 
of  the  nations  represented  would  be  sung,  yells  and 
cheers  given,  and  then  at  the  close  of  the  event  all 
would  march  up  and  down  the  campus  shouting,  burn- 
ing red  and  green  fire,  and  sending  up  balloons. 


Camp  Fun 


The  camp  paper,  known  as  The  Wawayanda  Whirl- 
wind, is  read  once  or  twice  a  week,  and  contains  all  of 
the  up-to-date  camp  news,  including  fashion  notes, 
personals,  hygienic  notes,  sporting  news,  advertise- 
ments, etc.  This  paper  has  been  issued  every  year 
since  the  opening  of  the  camp,  and  the  files  give  a 
complete  history. — Charles  R.  Scott,  State  Secretary 
of  Boys'  Work,  New  Jersey. 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS  245 

The  artisan  hurries  through  his  work  to   get  to  his  dinner;   the  artist 
hurries  through  his  dinner  to  get  to  his  work. — Rollins. 

252.     HAPPYLAND  FESTIVAL 

This  was  an  outdoor  affair,  and  was  conducted  upon 
our  athletic  grounds.  Attractive  booths  were  built  in 
which  the  ladies  sold  soft  drinks,  flowers,  ice  cream, 
sandwiches,  "dogs,"  etc.  All  the  booths  surrounded 
a  very  good  circus,  made  up  of  talent  from  our  Asso- 
ciation and  from  some  of  the  nearby  Associations. 
We  conducted  the  festival  two  afternoons  and  even- 
ings. The  grounds  and  booths  were  beautifully  deco- 
rated with  bunting  and  festoons  of  electric  lights.  In 
addition  to  the  booths  mentioned,  we  had  side  shows 
of  freaks,  and  several  games  such  as  "Hit  the  Nigger," 
"Soap  Bubbles,"  "Punch  and  Judy,"  palm  readings, 
etc.  A  number  of  the  young  men  and  boys  were 
dressed  in  wild  animal  costumes,  and  they,  with  other 
freaks,  kept  things  lively  about  the  grounds.  An 
excellent  band  furnished  music  and  also  acted  as  a 
drawing  card  in  the  parade  at  the  beginning  of  the  four 
performances  of  the  circus.  An  admission,  which  in- 
cluded the  circus,  was  charged  to  enter  the  grounds. 
This  festival  was  very  popular  and  a  success  in  every 
way.     Two  hundred  took  active  part. — Madison,  Wis. 

253.     GYPSY  TRIPS 

A  gypsy  trip  which  covered  a  distance  of  over  200 
miles  was  conducted  by  a  boys'  department  last  sum- 
mer. Plans  are  being  made  in  another  boys'  depart- 
ment for  a  gypsy  trip  during  the  coming  months. 
They  will  build  a  framework  on  a  large  wagon  and 
cover  it  with  canvas  after  the  fashion  of  a  "prairie 
schooner."  In  this  wagon  they  will  take  a  general 
camping  outfit  and  travel  around  the  country,  camping 
wherever  night  overtakes  them.  For  a  week  or  two 
they  expect  to  live  a  regular  gypsy  life,  roughing  it  in 
earnest.  Twenty  boys  will  make  up  the  party.  There 
are  boys'  departments  which  have  difficulty  in  finding 
a  suitable  location  for  camp.     Perhaps  some  of  these 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS  247 

He  whom  love  rules,  where'er  his  path  may  be 
Walks    safe    and    sacred. — Tibulus. 

may  like  the  idea  of  taking  their  location  along  with 
them  this  summer.— E.  M.  R.  in  Association  Boys, 
Vol.  L,  No.  2. 

254.     A  BOYS' CITY 

There  were  forty-five  boys  in  this  city,  living  in 
ten  tents  arranged  in  a  semicircle,  with  a  city  hall  at 
the  head.  The  city  was  divided  into  wards,  and  held 
primary  elections  of  the  land  and  water  parties ;  then 
a  regular  city  ticket  was  arranged,  and  an  election  held, 
the  Australian  ballot  system  being  followed.  Each 
morning  court  was  held,  and  all  disturbers  of  the  peace 
or  violators  of  the  law  were  brought  to  trial  and 
speedily  punished.  Every  morning  also  the  Common 
Council  met  to  make  laws  and  ordinances.  This  city 
was  under  the  auspices  of  the  Richmond  Chautauqua, 
and  located  inside  the  Chautauqua  grounds.  It  was 
under  the  direction  of  the  physical  director  and  boys' 
work  director  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Beside  the  usual 
camp  activities,  such  as  cross  country  runs,  swimming, 
campfires,  athletics,  all  members  of  the  city  were 
invited  to  attend  the  regular  Chautauqua  sessions, 
many  of  which  were  especially  interesting  to  the  boys. 
— 0.  M.  Branson,  Richmond,  Ind. 

255.     THE  OHIO  GYPSIES 

There  will  be  three  orders  of  honor  among  the  Ohio 
"Gypsies"  on  their  long  tramp  this  summer.  The  boy 
who  has  walked  five  miles  each  day  while  en  route  will, 
upon  arrival  at  the  camp,  have  the  order  of  the  "yellow 
rag"  conferred  upon  him.  This  will  be  a  plain  yellow 
handkerchief,  which  he  will  wear  about  his  neck. 
Upon  the  boy  who  has  walked  ten  miles  each ^ day  will 
be  conferred  the  order  of  the  "red  bandanna"— a  red 
bandanna  handkerchief.  Those  who  have  walked  the 
entire  distance  to  the  camp  will  be  honored  with  the 
order  of  the  "kettle"— a  kettle-shaped  device  in  red, 


248  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

A    laugh    is    worth    a    hundred    groans    in    any    market. — Lamb. 

which  will  be  pinned  on  the  bib  of  the  uniform.  The 
uniform  will  consist  of  blue  overalls,  a  cotton  shirt,  a 
farmer's  straw  hat  and  a  blue  handkerchief  around 
the  neck.  The  flag  colors  will  be  a  yellow  background 
with  a  red  kettle  in  the  center. 


'  Ohio  Gypsies. 

See  also  "Gypsy  Trips,"  No.  253.  For  full  descrip- 
tion of  Ohio  Gypsies  see  Association  Boys,  Vol.  II., 
No.  4. 

An  evening  tramp  into  the  country,  with  a  supper 
cooked  over  a  campfire,  is  the  popular  thing  with 
Burlington,  Vt,  boys. 

256.     OVER-NIGHT  TRAMPS 

Limit  party  to  half  dozen;  each  boy  carry  blanket, 
two  towels,  extra  pair  socks.     Leader  should  also  have 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS 


249 


The  world  often  thinks  a  man  cold  when  he  is  only  sad. — Longfellow. 

small  bottle  of  vaseline  for  blistered  toes.  Wear 
heavy-soled  shoes  and  work  out  an  easy  schedule,  so 
that  boys  will  have  a  chance  to  "take  in"  things  of 
interest  in  the  country.  Three  miles  an  hour  or  less 
should  be  limit  of  speed;  any  attempt  to  cover  dis- 
tances in  fast  time  will  result  disastrously.  Bathing 
the  feet  at  the  springs  and  pumps  along  the  road  will 
be  most  refreshing;  wade  a  half  hour  in  the  streams. 


Ready  for  a  Start 


Sleep  on  the  ground  under  an  isolated  tree,  avoiding 
spots  in  the  woods  which  would  probably  be  damp. 
Get  meals  at  farmhouses.  These  trips  may  be  varied 
from  a  short  tramp  of  ten  miles— starting  at  four  or 
five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  returning  early  next 
morning— to  covering  two  or  three  days  out.  The  one 
thino-  to  be  avoided  is  rushing  along  at  a  breakneck- 
speed ;  the  pace  should  accommodate  the  slowest 
walker. 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS  251 

The  most  manifest  sign  of  wisdom  is  continued  cheerfulness. — 
Montaigne. 

257.     HIGH  SCHOOL  BOYS  AND  GIRLS  OUT- 
OF-DOORS 

The  best  thing  of  a  social  nature  that  we  have  ever 
put  on  was  a  wiener  roast  at  "Robbers'  Cave/'  an  old 
abandoned  cave  about  two  and  a  half  miles  south  of 
the  town,  said  to  have  been  a  "still"  at  some  time  in 
the  past.  The  boys  invited  the  girls  of  the  high  school 
Y.  W.  C.  A.  to  be  their  guests.  All  walked  out  to  the 
cave,  where  an  advance  guard  had  taken  the  bread, 
butter,  wieners,  coffee,  cream  and  sugar.  The  differ- 
ent committees  soon  had  things  ready,  and  all  had  a 
fine  and  very  informal  time.  The  trip  back  to  town 
was  made  on  the  cars. — Sam  N.  Foster,  Lincoln,  Neb. 

258.     WATER  CARNIVAL 

The  carnival  is  most  effective  after  dark.  Pictur- 
esque floats  compete  for  a  prize.  Some  of  the  sub- 
jects represented  are  given  here: 

(1)  Discovery  of  Lake  Champlain;  French  com- 
mander in  prow  of  boat.  (2)  Illuminated  canoe, 
rollicking  song  with  mandolin  accompaniment.  (3) 
Japanese  scene ;  pagoda,  lanterns,  Japanese  nobleman 
cross-legged  on  dais,  fanning  himself.  Firecrackers 
used.  (4)  Gondola  with  lover  in  Neapolitan  dress 
sings  to  sweetheart  up  on  bank;  she  responds,  and 
finally  joins  him  in  gondola.  (5)  Fire  flickers; 
Indians  on  bank ;  death  sentence  pronounced ;  boy  tied 
to  tree ;  torches  lighted ;  death  song  chanted ;  cowboys 
suddenly  appear;  (cap)  pistols  crack  and  tomahawks 
gleam ;  cowboys  triumph ;  pipe  of  peace  smoked. 

259.     HIKING  CLUBS 

There  should  be  a  number  of  clubs,  of  ten  members 
each,  for  the  purpose  of  conducting  hikes  during  the 
summer  season.  As  incentives  the  following  may  be 
offered : 


252  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Come   forth    into   the   light  of   things, 

Let    nature     be    your     teacher. — Wordsworth. 

Prizes  of  pins  to  be  given  to  the  boys  walking  a 
distance  of  150  miles  before  August  31. 

Prizes  to  be  given  to  those  successfully  passing 
examinations  on  certain  lines  of  study. 

Prize  (Honor  Pin)  to  be  given  to  one  walking  the 
greatest  number  of  miles. 

Prize  to  be  given  for  the  best  collection  of  minerals. 

Prize  to  be  given  for  the  best  collection  of  flowers 
(pressed). 

Prize  to  be  given  for  the  best  collection  of  photo- 
graphs. 

Prize  to  be  given  for  the  best  essay  on  summer 
experiences. 

Banner  to  be  given  to  the  club  most  successful  in 
the  number  of  contestants  (all-round  men). — L.  W. 
DeGast,  Springfield,  Mass. 

260.     NATURE  STUDY 

In  every  Association  are  to  be  found  boys  or  young 
men  who  are  interested  in  certain  features  of  nature 
study,  and  these  may  be  readily  gathered  into  a  group 
or  groups  for  more  or  less  systematic  study.  There 
are  few  things  more  interesting  or  helpful  than  an 
intelligent  study  of  nature's  "three  kingdoms,"  espe- 
cially the  things  that  one  meets  constantly  in  every- 
day life — birds,  trees  and  rocks.  The  boys  learn  to 
observe  things,  and  find  subjects  to  talk,  think  and 
write  about.  The  average  boy  cares  for  a  stone  only 
to  throw,  delights  to  pull  a  shrub  to  pieces,  to  kill  a 
bird  or  squirrel ;  a  nature  student  will  rather  learn  to 
call  the  rocks  and  the  trees  by  name,  and  study  the 
habits  of  birds  and  animals.  It  is  a  fine  thing  if  a 
boy  learns  to  say  yes  to  Emerson's  questions, 

"Hast  thou  named  all  the  birds,  without  a  gun? 
Loved  the  wood-rose,  and  left  it  on  its  stalk?" 

There  is  getting  to  be  no  end  of  nature  books,  and 
many  of  them  are  intensely  interesting  as  well  as  in- 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS  253 

He  soweth  here  with  toil  and  care, 

But   the    harvest-time    of    love    is    there. — Southey. 

structive;  but  a  first-hand  outdoor  study,  with  con- 
genial companions  and  a  good  guide,  will  furnish  a 
splendid  stimulus  to  the  more  quiet  and  serious  read- 
ing of  books. — H.  S.  N. 

261.     "SIGHT  SEEING"  PARTIES 

For  fellows  who  have  never  visited  the  larger  cities 
in  the  vicinity  of  their  home,  trips  of  one  or  of  two 
or  three  days  may  be  made  not  only  very  enjoyable 
but  very  instructive.  There  must  be  safe  and  wise 
leadership,  and  the  leaders  should  study  their  field  in 
advance  so  as  to  know  how  to  make  the  best  possible 
use  of  the  opportunity — arranging  their  itinerary  so 
as  to  see  the  most  and  the  best  in  the  time  given.  It 
will  generally  be  possible  to  visit  an  Association  build- 
ing for  a  rest,  an  inspection  and  perhaps  a  lunch. 

262.     BOTANIZING 

When  a  youngster  at  school  I  had  a  teacher  who 
was  quite  a  student  of  botany.  Often  of  a  summer 
Saturday  afternoon  he  would  take  a  group  of  us  with 
him  into  the  fields  or  woods  to  study  the  flowers;  he 
would  name  the  blossoms,  explain  their  structure  and 
describe  their  plant  habits.  After  sixty  years  those 
little  tramps  are  a  pleasing  memory,  and  not  a  little  of 
the  technical  instruction  received  is  still  retained. — 
H.  S.  N. 

263.     SWIMMING  PARTIES 

A  swimming  party  would  be  a  boon  to  many  a  boy 
whose  mother  will  not  allow  him  to  enter  the  water 
until  after  he  has  learned  to  swim.  The  man  in 
charge  should  be  a  past  master  in  handling  a  party 
of  bovs.  Next  in  importance  should  be  his  ability 
as  a  swimmer.  A  party  could  be  taken  to  the  "old 
swimmin'  hole"  as  many  times  a  week  as  a  leader 
could  be  secured. 


Ir, 


'My 


mSt 


■ 

Urte 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS  255 

Social — to    save    from    sin. — Amos    R.    Wells. 

26L     SUMMER   CAMP   JOLLIFICATION 

One  of  our  most  successful  evenings  around  the 
campfire  was  an  imitation  of  high  school  commence- 
ment exercises.  The  boys  had  their  orations,  camp 
history,  camp  prophecy,  presentation  of  gifts  to  each 
camper  and  class  song.  It  was  all  very  humorous  and 
every  one  found  it  amusing.  It  enabled  us  also  to  dis- 
cover some  latent  talent  of  which  we  were  in  entire 
ignorance. — R.  J.  Hamilton,  Oak  Park,  III. 

265.     RAMBLES 

Start  each  time  with  a  fresh  objective:  first  for  wild 
flowers,  next  for  birds,  then  trees,  rocks  and  historical 
places.  Two  leaders  at  least  should  go  with  the 
party,  one  being  expert  to  tell  stories  and  identify  the 
flowers  or  birds  and  another  to  manage  the  affair. 
This  is  a  good  plan  for  boys  of  twelve  to  sixteen. 
Later  on  a  hike  with  a  corn  roast  gives  a  great  chance 
to  get  acquainted. — F.  IV.  Pearsall,  State  Secretary, 
New  York. 

266.     WIGWAG 

Boys  will  greatly  enjoy  this  signal  corps  work  and 
may  become  quite  expert  if  properly  instructed.  It 
takes  them  into  the  open  country,  and  teaches  them 
accurate  observation,  which  is  a  valuable  asset  in 
many  occupations.  It  goes  without  saying  that  it  has 
a  strong  social  side. 

267.     INTERVISITATION  SOCIALS 

Ride  by  bicycle,  carryall,  trolley  or  steam  cars  to 
neighboring  Associations.  The  program  for  the  en- 
tertainment may  be  provided  by  the  Association  visited 
or  by  representatives  from  visiting  Association.     The 


256 


SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 


Brothers,  the  work  of  a  social  committee  is  not  done  till  all  the 
Association  are  social.  Brotherliness  cannot  be  delegated. — Amos  R. 
Wells. 

fmtction  provides  a  jolly  time  for  all  the  members  and 
the  bonds  of  friendship  and  fellowship  are  strength- 
ened. 


Watching  the  Wigwags. 


268.     CORN  ROASTS 

These  may  be  held  anywhere  in  the  woods  or  open 
country.  Barn  lanterns  will  furnish  illumination  well 
suited  to  a  country  school  program.  After  a  tin  horn 
call  for  dinner,  there  will  be  no  formality  in  serving 
eatables.  Make  the  trip  in  trolley  cars  decorated  with 
Association  colors  and  streamer  signs.  Music  is 
usually  furnished  by  a  brass  band. 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS  257 

Life  is  a  sheet  of  paper  white 

Whereon  each  one  of  us  may  write 

A   word   or   two,    and   then   comes    night. — Lowell. 

269.     TRAMPING  PARTIES 

Groups  of  congenial  men  who  like  to  travel  afoot 
for  several  days  may  enjoy  together  the  beauties  of 
nature,  study  bird  life,  etc.  Individual  tents  may  be 
carried  or  shelter  at  night  may  be  found  at  farm- 
houses or  country  hotels. 

270.  ROOF  GARDEN,  SUMMER  GARDEN  OR 
LAWN  SOCIALS 

Arrange  for  a  carnival  of  games.  Add  plenty  of 
lively  music.  Illuminate  with  lanterns.  Liquid  re- 
freshments may  be  served  in  steins.  Allow  ample  time 
for  promenading  and  social  chat.  Avoid  a  formal 
program. 


A  Small  Hike 

271.     MOONLIGHT   EXCURSIONS 

Secure  a  boat  or  boats  on  river,  lake  or  ocean.  In 
addition  to  the  usual  band  concert,  plan  to  start  college 
songs  and  speeches,  to  hold  a  mock  trial,  etc.  Refresh- 
ments consist  of  fruits,  sandwiches,  soda  water. 


258  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Do  not  trouble  yourself  about  finding  your  career;  if  you  are  destined 
to  have  one,  it  will  find  you. — Rollins. 

272.     PIAZZA  OR  PAVILION  SOCIALS 

These  are  for  committees,  clubs  or  other  small 
groups  of  men  or  boys.  The  program  may  be  a  com- 
bination conference  and  social.  Hold  the  affair  on 
moonlight  nights.  No  other  illumination  is  necessary. 
Refreshments :  ice  cream,  cakes  and  lemonade. 

273.     CAMP  FIRES 

These  may  be  built  in  nearby  woods,  on  a  river 
bank,  lake  shore  or  ocean  beach.  Patriotic  speeches, 
war  stories,  war  songs  are  in  order.  Refreshments 
may  be  hard-tack  and  coffee. 

274.     STRAW  RIDES 

Drive  to  places  of  historic  interest,  concluding  with 
supper  at  some  "wayside  inn."  Carry  out  a  program 
of  toasts,  songs,  yarn-spinning,  etc. 

275.     CAMERA  AND  SKETCH  CLUB  RAMBLES 

Conclude  with  dinner.  Speeches  by  naturalists, 
botanists,  geologists,  bird  lovers,  etc.,  should  be  in- 
cluded in  a  social,  educational  program. 

276.     CLAM  BAKES 

Ride  or  tramp  to  the  ocean  beach.  Arrange  for 
outdoor  sports — quoits,  duck-on-the-rock,  obstacle 
races,  etc. — winding  up  with  dinner  enlivened  by  fish 
stories,  etc. 

277.     SUMMER  AT  THE  BUILDING 

At  the  building.  Ice  cream  and  soft  drinks  may  be 
sold  on  certain  afternoons  or  evenings.  Have  the  boys 
form  a  company,  and  run  the  business,  selling  at  a 


CAMPS  AND  OUTINGS 


259 


Be     charitable     before    wealth     makes     thee     covetous. 
Browne. 


>ir     Thomas 


very  small  profit.  Boys  would  prefer  to  come  to  the 
building  if  they  could  secure  refreshments  at  a  less 
price  than  elsewhere,  especially  if  a  social  atmosphere 
existed  in  the  rooms.  This  plan  could  be  varied  by 
having  lawn  parties  occasionally  at  the  home  of  some 
member.  Let  the  boys  work  out  the  details,  attending 
to  the  illumination,  etc. 


INDIANS  AND  SCOUTS 


278.     LAWS  OF  THE  SETON  INDIANS 

The  Seton  Indians  have  been  organized  to  give 
young  people  the  advantages  of  camp  life  without  its 
dangers.  The  Indian  form  was  adopted  because  its 
picturesqueness  gives  such  a  hold  on  boys;  it  makes 
them  self-governing;  it  is  appropriate  to  outdoor  life; 
it  gives  definite  things  to  do  in  the  woods,  and  it  is  so 
plastic  that  it  may  be  engrafted  on  any  other  organized 
mode  of  camping,  to  any  desired  extent,  in  whole  or  in 
part. 

Of  course  there  are  many  bad  Indians,  and  many 
bad  things  are  done  by  nearly  all  Indians,  but  we  wish 
to  imitate  the  good  things  of  good  Indians.  Our 
watchword  then  is :  ''The  best  things  of  the  best 
Indians,"  and  our  object:  "The  study  and  pleasures  of 
woodcraft." 

Our  tribes  are  trained  in  woodcraft  and  in  self- 
government.  By  woodcraft  we  mean  outdoor  ath- 
letics, nature  study  and  camping  as  a  fine  art. 

Photography  is  recognized  as  a  branch  of  nature 
study,  and  camper-craft  is  made  to  include  the  simplest 
methods  of  triangulation,  starcraft,  finding  one's  way, 
telling  direction,  sign-language,  as  well  as  many 
branches  of  Indian  craft. 

About  one  hundred  deeds  or  exploits  are  recognized 
in  these  departments  and  the  braves  are  given  decora- 
tions that  show  what  they  have  achieved. 

The  plan  aims  to  give  the  young  people  "something 
to  do,  something  to  think  about  and  something  to  enjoy 
in  the  woods,"  with  a  view  always  to  character  build- 
ing. 

Get  the  boys  together,  any  number  from  ten  up- 
wards, and  by  popular  vote  elect  the  following  officers : 

Head  War  Chief  elected  by  the  Tribe.  He  should  be 
strong  as  well  as  popular,  because  his  duties  are  to 


262  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

A    man    he    seems    of    cheerful    yesterdays 
And  confident  to-morrows. — Wordsworth. 

lead  and  to  enforce  the  laws.  He  is  head  of  the  Coun- 
cil. 

Second  War  Chief,  to  take  the  head  chief's  place 
when  he  is  absent,  otherwise  he  is  merely  a  councilor. 

Third  War  Chief,  for  leader  when  the  other  two  are 
away. 

Wampum  Chief.  He  has  charge  of  the  money  and 
public  property  of  the  Tribe,  except  the  records.  He 
obeys  the  head  chief  and  Council.  He  ought  to  have 
a  lock  box  or  small  trunk  to  keep  valuables  in. 

Chief  of  the  Painted  Robe,  or  Feather-tally.  He 
keeps  the  tribal  records,  including  the  law  book,  the 
roster  or  roll,  the  winter  count,  or  record  of  camps 
and  seasons  and  the  feather-tally  or  record  of  honors 
and  exploits.  He  enters  nothing  except  on  instructions 
from  the  Council.    He  should  be  an  artist. 

Chief  of  the  Council  Fire.  It  is  his  exclusive  privi- 
lege to  make  fire.  He  must  do  it  without  matches.  He 
must  also  see  that  the  camp  and  woods  are  kept  clean. 

Sometimes  one  brave  or  chief  holds  more  than  one 
of  these,  last  three  offices. 

Medicine  Man  (a  grown  up).  His  duty  is  to  advise 
the  head  chief. 

Add  to  these  all  the  sachems  and  sagamores  with 
elected  councilors  enough  to  raise  the  total  number 
to  not  more  than  twelve. 

All  are  under  the  chief.  All  disputes,  etc.,  are  set- 
tled by  the  chief  and  Council.  The  Council  makes  the 
laws  and  fixes  the  dues.    The  chief  enforces  the  laws. 

All  officers  are  elected  for  one  year  or  until  their 
successors  are  chosen.  The  election  to  take  place  as 
soon  as  possible  after  spring  day,  the  first  of  March. 

(Whenever  in  doubt  we  try  to  follow  the  National 
Constitution.) 

Vow  of  the  Head  Chief 

I  solemnly  promise  to  maintain  the  laws  and  to  see 
fair  play  in  all  the  doings  of  the  Tribe. 


INDIANS  AND  SCOUTS  263 

Naught  cared  this  body  for  wind   or  weather 
When  youth  and  I  lived  in't  together. — Coleridge. 

Vow  of  Each  Brave 

I  solemnly  promise  that  I  will  obey  the  chief  and 
Council  of  my  Tribe,  and  if  I  fail  in  my  duty  I  will 
appear  before  the  Council  and  submit  without  mur- 
muring to  their  decision. 

Laws 

1.  Don't  rebel.  Rebellion  by  any  one  against  any 
decision  of  the  Council  is  punishable  by  expulsion. 
Absolute  obedience  is  always  enforced. 

2.  Don't  kindle  a  wild  fire.  To  start  a  wild  fire — 
that  is,  to  set  the  woods  or  prairies  afire — is  a  crime 
against  the  state,  as  well  as  the  Tribe.  Never  leave 
a  fire  in  camp  without  some  one  to  watch  it. 

3.  Don't  harm  song  birds.  It  is  forbidden  to  kill 
or  injure  or  frighten  song  birds,  or  to  disturb  their 
nests  or  eggs,  or  to  molest  squirrels. 

4.  Don't  break  the  game  laws. 

5.  Don't  cheat.  Cheating  in  the  games  or  records 
or  wearing  honors  not  conferred  by  the  Council  is  a 
crime. 

6.  Don't  bring  firearms  of  any  kind  into  camp. 
Bows  and  arrows  are  enough  for  our  purpose.  Never 
point  a  weapon  at  any  one. 

7.  Don't  make  a  dirty  camp.  Keep  the  woods  and 
streams  clean  by  burying  all  garbage. 

8.  No  smoking  till  you  are  eighteen  years  old. 

9.  No  fire-water  in  camp. 
10.     Word  of  honor  is  sacred. 

Punishments  are  meted  out  by  the  chief  and  Coun- 
cil after  a  hearing  of  the  case.    They  consist  of : 
Exclusion  from  the  games  for  a  time. 
Tasks  of  drudgery  and  camp  service. 
Reduction  in  rank. 
The  extreme  penalty  is  banishment  from  the  Tribe. 

Totem 
The  totem  of  the  whole  nation  of  Seton  Indians  (as 


264  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Better  shed  light  than  cast  a  shadow.     Better  be  a  lens  than  a  shutter. 
— Anon. 

they  have  called  themselves)   is  the  White  or  Silver 
Buffalo. 

Each  band  needs  a  totem  of  its  own  in  addition. 
This  is  selected  by  the  Council,  and  should  be  some- 
thing easy  to  draw.  Each  brave  adds  a  private  totem 
of  his  own,  usually  a  drawing  of  his  name. 


A  List  of  the  Exploits  or  Coups  That  Entitle 
the  Brave  to  a  Decoration 

These  exploits  are  intended  to  distinguish  those 
warriors  who  are  first  class  or  remarkable  in  each 
department.  They  may  be  called  Honors  and  High 
Honors,  but  the  Plains  Indians  speak  of  their  exploits 
as  Coup  (pronounced  coo)  and  Grand  Coup.  The 
Sioux,  I  am  informed,  use  the  French  word  coup,  but 
call  them  "Jus-pee-na  Coo"  and  "Tonka  Coo,"  the 
"Little  Deed"  and  the  "Big  Deed." 

The  decoration  for  a  coup  or  honor  is  an  eagle 
feather  for  the  war-bonnet  or  a  wampum  medal  for 
the  coat,  or  both. 

For  the  high  honor  or  grand  coup  the  eagle  feather 
has  a  red  tuft  of  horsehair  on  the  top. 

No  one  can  count  both  coup  and  grand  coup  or 
repeat  the  honor  in  the  same  department  except  for 
Heroism  in  which  each  honor  is  added  to  that  pre- 
viously worn. 

No  honors  are  conferred  unless  the  exploit  has  been 
properly  witnessed  or  proven,  as  though  for  the 
century  bar  of  the  L.  A.  W. 

The  exploits  in  the  first  group  of  Class  1,  Athletics, 
are  meant  for  boys  under  sixteen,  but  all  the  others 
apply  to  all  ages. 

Those  with  twenty-five  coups  are  sachems.  Those 
with  twenty-five  grand  coups  are  grand  sachems. 
Those  with  fifty  coups  are  sagamores  and  those  with 
fifty  grand  coups  are  grand  sagamores.  Sachems  and 
sasramores  sit  in  Council  without  election. 


INDIANS  AND  SCOUTS  265 

Cultivate  forbearance   till  your  heart  yields   a  fine   crop   of   it.     Pray 
for  a  short  memory  as  to  all  unkindness. — Spurgeon. 

Class  I. — Red  Honors 
heroism 

1.  Honors  are  allowed  for  saving  human  life  at 
risk  of  one's  own;  it  is  a  coup  or  grand  coup  at  the 
discretion  of  the  Council. 

ATHLETICS 

(For  boys  under  sixteen.) 

2.  Walk  three  and  one  half  measured  miles  in  one 
hour  (heel  and  toe)  to  count  coup  or  honor;  or  four 
miles  to  count  grand  coup  or  high  honor. 

3.  Walk  one  quarter  of  a  mile  in  two  and  one  half 
minutes  for  coup;  in  two  minutes  for  grand  coup. 

4.  Walk  one  mile  in  eleven  minutes  for  coup ;  in 
ten  minutes  for  grand  coup. 

5.  Run  one  hundred  yards  in  twelve  seconds  for 
coup;  in  eleven  seconds  for  grand  coup. 

6.  Run  two  hundred  and  twenty  yards  in  twenty- 
eight  seconds  for  coup;  in  twenty-six  seconds  for 
grand  coup. 

7.  Run  a  mile  in  five  and  one  half  minutes  for 
coup;  in  five  minutes  for  grand  coup. 

8.  High  standing  jump,  three  feet  four  inches  for 
coup ;  three  feet  nine  inches  for  grand  coup. 

9.  High  running  jump,  four  feet  six  inches  for 
coup ;  five  feet  for  grand  coup. 

10.  Standing  broad  jump,  eight  feet  for  coup  ;  nine 
feet  for  grand  coup. 

11.  Running  broad  jump,  sixteen  feet  for  coup; 
eighteen  feet  for  grand  coup. 

12.  Hammer  throw  (twelve  pounds),  eighty  feet 
for  coup ;  ninety  for  grand  coup. 

13.  Shot  put  (twelve  pounds) ,  thirty  feet  for  coup ; 
thirty-five  for  grand  coup. 

14.  Throwing  the  regular  four  and  one  half  ounce 
baseball  fifty  yards  for  coup ;  sixty-five  for  grand  coup. 


266  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

He    was    willing    to    forgive    them    himself,    but    he    hoped    the    Lord 
wouldn't. — Rollins. 

15.  One  mile  on  bicycle,  three  and  one  half  for 
coup ;  three  minutes  for  grand  coup. 

16.  Skate  one  hundred  yards  in  twelve  seconds  for 
coup ;  eleven  seconds  for  grand  coup. 

17.  Row  (single  sculls)  one  mile  in  fifteen  minutes 
for  coup ;  in  twelve  minutes  for  grand  coup. 

18.  Paddle  (single)  one  mile  in  twenty  minutes  for 
coup;  in  fifteen  minutes  for  grand  coup. 

19.  Swim  one  hundred  yards  in  any  time  at  all,  to 
count  coup ;  or  two  hundred  in  three  and  one  half 
minutes,  to  count  grand  coup. 

20.  Go  four  hundred  yards  in  six  minutes,  running 
one  hundred,  rowing  one  hundred,  walking  one  hun- 
dred, and  swimming  one  hundred  (in  any  order),  for 
coup ;  do  it  in  five  minutes  for  grand  coup. 

21.  To  catch  ten  horses  in  corral,  with  ten  throws 
of  the  lasso,  counts  coup ;  to  catch  ten  on  the  range  in 
ten  throws,  counts  a  grand  coup. 

22.  To  ride  a  horse  one  mile  in  three  minutes, 
clearing  a  four  foot  hurdle  and  a  ten  foot  ditch,  counts 
coup ;  to  do  it  in  two  minutes,  clearing  a  six  foot 
hurdle  and  a  fifteen  foot  ditch,  grand  coup. 

(The  standards  for  men  are  not  yet  complete.) 

EYESIGHT 

23.  To  spot  the  Rabbit  at  sixty  yards,  to  distinguish 
six  Pleiades  and  see  clearly  the  "Pappoose  on  the 
Squaw's  back,"  counts  a  coup;  to  spot  the  Rabbit  at 
seventy-five  yards  and  see  seven  Pleiades,  counts  a 
far-sight  grand  coup.  (Those  who  habitually  wear 
glasses  may  use  them  in  this  test.) 

24.  To  make  a  seventy-five  score  in  ten  tries  in  the 
game  of  QuicksigJit  with  ten  counters,  counts  coup;  a 
ninety-five  score  counts  a  grand  coup.* 


*See  Tzvo  Little  Savages. 


INDIANS  AND  SCOUTS  267 

Happy  is  the  man  who  has  that  in  his  soul  which  acts  on  others  as 
the  April   sun   on   violets. — Anon. 

Class  II. — White  Honors 

CAMPER-CRAFT 

25.  Come  to  camp  through  strange  woods  from  a 
point  one  mile  off  in  twenty  minutes,  for  coup;  in 
fifteen  for  grand  coup. 

26.  Light  ten  campfires  in  succession  with  ten 
matches,  all  at  different  places,  all  with  stuff  found  in 
the  woods  by  the  boy  himself,  one  at  least  to  be  on  a 
wet  day,  for  coup.  If  all  ten  are  done  on  wet  days, 
or  if  he  does  twenty,  of  which  two  are  on  wet  days, 
it  counts  grand  coup. 

27.  Light  a  fire  with  fire-drill  or  rubbing  sticks, 
with  material  of  one's  own  gathering,  counts  a  coup ;  to 
do  it  in  one  minute,  counts  a  grand  coup. 

28.  To  chop  down  a  six-inch  tree  in  sixty  seconds, 
throwing  it  to  drive  a  given  stake  for  coup ;  in  forty- 
five  seconds,  grand  coup. 

29.  Know  and  name  ten  star  groups,  for  coup; 
know  ten  star  groups  and  tell  the  names  and  something 
about  at  least  one  star  in  each,  for  grand  coup. 

30.  Take  the  latitude  from  the  stars  at  night  with 
a  cartwheel,  or  some  home-made  instrument,  within 
two  degrees  of  error,  for  coup ;  one  degree,  for  grand 
coup. 

31.  To  guess  one  inch,  one  foot,  one  yard,  one  rod, 
one  acre,  one  hundred  yards,  two  hundred  yards,  one 
quarter  mile,  one  half  mile,  and  a  mile,  within  twenty 
per  cent  of  average  error,  for  coup ;  ten  per  cent,  for 
grand  coup. 

32.  To  measure  the  height  of  a  tree  without  climb- 
ing, or  distance  across  a  river,  etc.,  without  crossing, 
within  ten  per  cent  of  average  error  in  ten  tries,  for 
coup  ;  five  per  cent  for  grand  coup. 

33.  In  sign-talking,  to  know  and  use  correctly  titty 
signs  for  coup ;  one  hundred  signs  for  grand  coup. 

34.  To  make  twenty  different  standard  knots  in  a 
rope  for  coup ;  thirty  for  grand  coup. 


268  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Win   hearts   and   you  will   have   hands   and  purses. — Lord   Burleigh. 

35.  To  catch  a  two-pound  trout  on  a  five-ounce  rod 
with  fly,  and  without  assistance,  coup ;  a  three-pound 
trout,  a  grand  coup. 

36.  To  cast  a  fly  on  five-ounce  nine-foot  rod,  fifty 
feet  for  coup ;  seventy-five  for  grand  coup. 

37.  To  catch  a  five-pound  fish  on  a  five-ounce  rod, 
grand  coup. 

ARCHERY 

38.  Make  a  total  score  of  three  hundred  with  sixty 
shots  (in  one  or  two  meets)  four- foot  target  at  forty 
yards  for  coup ;  make  four  hundred  for  grand  coup. 

39.  Shoot  so  fast  as  to  have  six  arrows  in  the  air  at 
once,  for  coup ;  seven  for  grand  coup. 

40.  Send  an  arrow  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  for 
coup;  two  hundred  for  grand  coup  (for  those  under 
sixteen). 

41.  To  hit  the  Burlap  Deer  in  the  heart  at  sixty 
yards  first  shot,  counts  a  coup ;  at  seventy-five  yards 
counts  a  grand  coup.* 

Class  III. — Blue  Honors 

NATURE    STUDY 

4-2.  Know  and  name  correctly,  i.e.  with  the 
accepted  English  names,  according  to  any  standard 
authority,  twenty-five  trees,  and  tell  something  inter- 
esting about  them,  counts  coup;  fifty  for  grand  coup. 

43.  Know  and  name  correctly  fifty  of  our  wild 
-flowers  for  coup;  one  hundred  for  grand  coup. 

44.  Know  and  name  correctly  fifty  of  our  native 
birds  as  seen  mounted  in  a  museum,  the  female  and 
young  to  count  separately  when  they  are  wholly  differ- 
ent from  the  male ;  this  counts  coup  ;  one  hundred  birds 
for  grand  coup. 

45.  Know  and  name  correctly  fifty  wild  birds  in  the 
field,  this  counts  coup ;  one  hundred,  grand  coup. 

*See  Two  Little  Savages. 


INDIANS  AND  SCOUTS  269 

Who  falls  for  the  love  of  God,   shall  rise  as  a  star. — Ben  Jonson. 

46.  Recognize  fifty  wild  birds  by  note  for  coup; 
one  hundred  for  grand  coup. 

47.  Know  and  name  correctly  twenty-five  wild 
quadrupeds  for  coup;  know  and  name  correctly  fifty 
and  tell  something  interesting  about  each  for  grand 
coup. 

48.  Know  and  draw  unmistakable  pictures  of 
twenty-five  tracks  of  our  four-footed  animals  for  coup  ; 
of  fifty  for  grand  coup. 

49.  Know  and  name  twenty-five  fish  for  coup; 
fifty  fish  for  grand  coup. 

50.  Know  and  name  ten  snakes  of  different 
varieties,  telling  which  are  poisonous,  for  coup ; 
twenty  snakes  for  grand  coup. 

51.  Know  and  name  fifty  common  toadstools  or 
mushrooms  for  coup;  one  hundred  for  grand  coup. 

52.  Know  and  name  fifty  moths  for  coup;  one 
hundred  for  grand  coup. 

53.  Know  and  name  twenty-five  butterflies  for 
coup;  fifty  butterflies  for  grand  coup. 

54.  Know  and  name  fifty  other  insects  for  coup; 
one  hundred  for  grand  coup. 

55.  Know  and  name  ten  native  turtles  for  coup; 
twenty,  with  something  interesting  about  them,  for 
grand  coup. 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

56.  Make  a  good  recognizable  photograph  of  any 
wild  bird  larger  than  a  robin,  while  on  its  nest,  for 
coup. 

57.  Make  a  good  photograph  of  a  partridge,  drum- 
ming, for  grand  coup. 

58.  Make  a  good  recognizable  photograph  of  a  wild 
animal  or  fish  in  the  air,  for  coup,  or  grand  coup, 
according  to  merit. 

Couds  for  mountain  climbing,  camning,  baseball, 
football,  etc.,  are  beine  provided  for. — Ernest  Thomp- 
son Seton,  in  Association  Boys,  Vol.  IV.,  No.  3. 

(Copyrighted  by  Ernest  Thompson  Seton.     All  rights  reserved). 


270  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

The  friends  thou  hast,   and  their  adoption  tried,  grapple  them  to  thy 
soul  with  hooks  of  steel. — Shakespeare. 

279.     THE  SNAPPING  TURTLE  INDIANS 

Ernest  Thompson  Seton's  "Red  Book  or  How  to 
Play  Indian,"  and  an  article  entitled  "Wild  Indians  at 
Buffalo"  (Association  Boys,  February,  1904),  sug- 
gested the  possibilities  of  further  developments  in  Bible 
study.  With  these  suggestions,  the  head  chief  called 
to  his  aid  two  picked  boys,  to  whom  he  gave  titles  of 
medicine  man  and  wampum  chief.  Together  we 
formed  what  was  later  adopted  and  known  by  the 
entire  tribe  as  the  "Laws  of  the  Wat-Nong  Nation," 
which  are  as  follows: 

ARTICLE   I. 

Physically:  (a)  To  become  strong,  nimble  and 
enduring  in  all  war  and  festive  dances,  tramps  and 
scouting  parties;  (b)  Never  to  use  fire-water  in  any 
form;  (c)    Never  to  burn  the  weed. 

Mentally:  (a)  To  learn  the  habits  and  customs 
of  our  forefathers  and  to  try  to  copy  all  their  good 
traits  of  character;  (b)  To  enlighten  the  paleface  by 
example ;  (c)  Never  to  think  or  speak  impure  thoughts 
or  practice  impure  habits. 

Spiritually:  (a)  To  deal  fairly  and  squarely 
with  Indian  and  paleface;  (b)  To  seek  to  know  and 
please  the  Great  Spirit;  (c)  To  attend  the  regular 
reading  of  His  letter;  (d)  To  never  talk  idly  of  the 
Great  Spirit;  (e)   Never  to  chance  wampum. 

ARTICLE  II. 

The  Braves:  Must  be  between  the  ages  of  twelve 
and  fourteen  years  and  must  receive  a  two-thirds  vote 
from  the  members  of  the  Tribe  to  become  a  member 
of  the  same.  After  the  initiation  of  a  new  member 
(which  shall  be  arranged  and  conducted  by  the  Coun- 
cil) he  shall  stand  before  the  Tribe  and  receive  his 
Indian  title.  The  brave  voting  against  a  candidate 
must  give  his  reasons  to  the  chief  of  the  Tribe 
privately. 


INDIANS  AND  SCOUTS  271 

Do  justice  to  your  brother  (you  can  do  that  whether  you  love  him 
or  not),  and  you  will  come  to  love  him. — Ruskin. 

ARTICLE  III. 

Each  Tribe  of  the  Wat-Nong.  Nation  shall  have  a 
totem  and  special  name.  The  name  of  this  Tribe  shall 
be  the  Snapping  Turtle  :  and  their  totem  shall  be  the 
snapping  turtle. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

The  Council:  Shall  consist  of  the  following 
named  Chiefs,  The  Great  Chief,  Medicine  Man,  Wam- 
pum Chief,  Chief  of  the  Painted  Robe.  All  other 
members  of  the  Tribe  shall  be  known  by  their  Indian 
names.  This  Council  shall  settle  all  matters  of  war 
and  peace. 

ARTICLE  V. 

Coups  and  Decorations:  Will  be  awarded  at  the 
monthly  powwows.  Coups  for  perfect  attendance 
and  decorations  for  Bible  study. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

The  Vow  of  the  Snapping  Turtle:  I  solemnly 
promise  to  obey  the  laws  of  the  Snapping  Turtles  and 
to  attend  the  councils  for  study  of  the  Word  of  the 
Great  Spirit. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

If  at  any  time  additional  laws  shall  seem  to  be  nec- 
essary for  the  governing  of  the  Tribe,  the  same  must 
receive  a  two-thirds  vote  from  all  the  members  of 
the  Tribe. 

Witness  the  seal  and  signature  of  the  members  of 
the  Snapping  Turtles.  (Signed  by  each  member  of 
the  Tribe.) 

AMENDMENT  I. 

Other  groups  of  boys  who  form  themselves  into  a 
Tribe  and  adopt  the  laws  of  the  Wat-Nong  Nation 
may  become  a  Tribe  of  the  same. 


272  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

He   is  great  who   confers  the   most  benefits. — Emerson. 

The  Council  referred  to  in  the  government  of  the 
Nation  is  made  up  of  the  chief  and  the  councilmen. 
The  head  chief  is  reader  and  interpreter  of  the  Word 
of  the  Great  Spirit  at  the  meeting  each  week  for 
study.  The  medicine  man,  a  true  Indian  in  every 
sense  of  the  word,  helps  the  great  chief  by  his  advice 
and  cooperation.  The  wampum  chief  has  the  care  of 
the  wampum  and  sees  that  it  is  dealt  out  to  the  best 
advantage  and  welfare  of  the  Tribe.  This  wampum  is 
given  at  the  weekly  meetings  of  the  Tribe ;  one  half  of 
it  is  given  to  the  volunteer  league  of  the  department, 
and  the  other  half  is  spent  by  the  Snapping  Turtles 
for  powwows  and  other  expenses.  The  chief  of  the 
painted  robe  is  the  master  of  ceremonies  at  powwows 
and  council  fires.  He  holds  the  key  to  the  secret  writ- 
ings of  the  Tribe. 

The  powwows  referred  to  in  the  laws  are  held  once 
a  month,  at  which  games  and  a  general  jollification  are 
the  main  features.  Preceding  these  powwows  the 
council  of  peace  or  war  is  held,  at  which  the  Tribe 
gathers  around  the  council  table  to  listen  to  the  reports 
of  the  medicine  man  and  wampum  chief,  and  trans- 
act any  other  business  which  may  come  before  the 
Tribe.  Coups  and  decorations  are  awarded  at  this 
time,  palefaces  initiated  into  the  Tribe,  and  papers  and 
stories  of  Indian  life  read.  The  initiation  of  pale- 
faces is  similar  to  that  of  the  Phi  Alpha  Pi,  except 
that  several  features  characteristic  of  the  Indian  are 
introduced. 

The  councilmen  and  members  attend  the  powwows 
in  war  paint  and  decorate  their  heads  with  their  war 
bonnets. 

The  Snapping  Turtles  this  winter  have  studied  the 
great  chiefs  of  the  Bible  in  connection  with  history  of 
the  Old  and  New  Testament,  using  the  shorter  course 
of  "Men  of  the  Bible"  by  Davis.  We  expect  to  com- 
plete the  course  in  time  for  the  international  examina- 
tions on  "Men  of  the  Bible" ;  to  prove  that  we  are  true 
Indians ;  that  we  are  familiar  with  the  best  traits  of 


INDIANS  AND  SCOUTS  273 

Cheerful    looks    make    every    dish    a    feast. — Messinger. 

characters  of  the  great  chiefs  we  have  studied,  and 
hope  to  imitate  the  best  and  most  worthy  traits  of  their 
character  in  our  own  lives. 

The  attendance  at  the  meetings  for  study  of  the 
Great  Spirit's  Word  this  winter,  has  been  eighty  per 
cent  of  enrollment. — /.  O.  Van  Ness,  Twenty-third 
Street  Branch,  Nezv  York  City,  in  Association  Boys, 
Vol.  V.,  No.  2. 

280.     THE  WILD  INDIANS  OF  ROANOKE 

About  a  year  ago  we  realized  the  need  of  some  kind 
of  an  organization  in  our  junior  department  to  tie  the 
boys  up  to  the  Association  for  the  spring  and  summer 
months.  We  decided  on  "Wild  Indians."  The  fol- 
lowing plan  was  worked  out :  (1)  Every  boy  wishing 
to  become  an  Indian  should  be  initiated.  (2)  A  defi- 
nite promise  should  be  taken  with  each  degree.  (3) 
The  object  of  this  organization  not  to  be  "to  do 
something  for  the  boys"  but  "to  get  the  boys  to  do 
something  for  other  boys  and  for  themselves."  (4) 
The  Indians  to  be  divided  into  two  tribes  for  an  all- 
around  contest.    * 

The  initiation  idea  arose  from  the  fact  that  boys 
always  want  to  initiate  new  gymnasium  members.  If 
initiation  is  to  be  done  it  had  better  be  done  under 
supervision.  Initiations  in  the  gymnasium  are  a  thing 
of  the  past.  "Wait  until  he  joins  the  Indians"  takes 
the  place  of  it.  Not  a  boy  so  far  has  failed  to  join. 
Sometimes  he  holds  off  for  a  few  weeks  but  finally 
summons  up  courage  enough.  No  boy  has  yet  been 
hurt. 

The  promises  they  are  required  to  make  aim  at 
high  ideals,  spiritually,  mentally  and  physically. 

The  Tribe  contest  idea  is  as  follows:  (1)  The  Tribe 
having  the  largest  gymnasium  attendance  each  day  gets 
three  points,  while  the  other  Tribe  gets  one  point.  (2) 
An  athletic  or  gymnastic  contest  once  a  week  counts 
three   and   one   points.      (3)   The   Tribe   having   the 


274  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

What  is  a  gentleman?  I'll  tell  you;  a  gentleman  is  one  who  keeps 
his   promises    made   to   those   who    cannot   enforce    them. — Hubbard. 

largest  attendance  (members  and  non-members)  at  the 
boys'  Sunday  meeting  gets  five  points  and  the  other 
two  points.  (4)  A  new  member  to  the  Association 
counts  five  points  and  becomes  a  member  of  the  Tribe 
securing  him.  (5)  For  misconduct  we  give  dements, 
two  demerits  taking  off  one  point  from  the  team. 
Only  two  demerits  have  been  given  during  the  whole 
year.     The  boys  keep  each  other  straight. 

As  a  result  of  this  contest  the  past  year,  our  mem- 
bership has  doubled.  Our  boys'  meetings  have  more 
than  doubled,  and  we  have  a  most  gentlemanly  set 
of  boys. 

For  our  Sunday  meetings  we  have  eight  tickets 
printed  on  one  card  and  give  them  to  the  boys;  they 
do  the  advertising. 

We  adopted  the  Indian  writing  as  given  in  Asso- 
ciation Boys,  February,  1904.  Each  Indian  selects  a 
picture,  as  his  Indian  portrait,  for  which  he  pays. 
This  picture  is  put  up  in  our  Indian  room  with  the 
boy's  name  on  it.  We  have  every  seven  by  nine  Indian 
picture  that  we  can  find  published  and  have  had  to 
resort  to  postal  card  Indians. 

The  Indians  made  a  teepee  for  their  outings,  in 
which  twenty  Indians  can  sleep.  The  boys  did  the 
cutting  out,  sewing,  painting  and  everything  them- 
selves. 

Several  outings  were  taken  last  summer,  all  Indians 
being  in  full  war  paint  and  costume.  Entertainments 
are  also  given  occasionally.  The  last  one  was  on 
March  2,  fifty  Indians  taking  part.  The  seating  capa- 
city of  our  auditorium  is  two  hundred  and  eighty-seven, 
but  we  had  over  four  hundred  in  it  this  time  and  turned 
others  away.  War  paint  and  costumes  were  in  abun- 
dance. The  stage  was  decorated  with  their  teepee, 
Indian  rugs,  Indian  pictures  drawn  by  the  boys,  etc. 
Ticket  sellers,  doorkeepers,  ushers  and  refreshment 
committee  were  all  Indians.  The  program  consisted 
of  piano  solos  and  duets,  violin  solo,  choruses,-  recita- 


INDIANS  AND  SCOUTS  275 

Call   to    mind    the    heavier    sufferings    of   others    that    thou    mayest   the 
more  easily  bear  the  very  little  thou  sufferest. — Thomas  a  Kempis. 

tions,  initiation  of  a  paleface,  campfire  tableaux, 
Indian  yells,  electric  Indian  club  swinging  and  refresh- 
ments. The  refreshments  did  not  go  around  but  the 
war  paint  did.  Everybody  had  an  enjoyable  time  and 
pronounced  it  a  success. 

The  officers  of  our  organization  are  as  follows : 
Sachem  (physical  director),  Wampum  Man  (treas- 
urer), Medicine  Man  (secretary),  two  Sagamores 
(heads  or  captains  of  tribes). 

There  is  no  limit  to  the  degrees.  We  have  reached 
the  sixth  and  will  add  about  six  more  this  summer. 
Of  course  these  are  secret,  but  we  will  be  glad  to  fur- 
nish them  to  any  director  who  deserves  them. 

We  will  have  contests  in  making  arrowheads, 
tomahawks,  etc.,  the  best  of  which  will  be  put  among 
our  collection  of  Indian  relics. 

In  connection  with  this  read  "The  Wild  Indians  of 
Buffalo,"  in  Association  Boys  of  February,  1904,  and 
the  little  red  book,  "How  to  Play  Indian,"  by  Ernest 
Thompson  Seton.- — C.  R.  Warthew,  Roanoke,  Va.,  in 
Association  Boys,  Vol.  V .,  No.  2. 

281.     BOY  SCOUTS  OF  AMERICA* 

The  scout  movement  being  essentially  social  in  its 
character  has  naturally  a  place  in  this  book.  Also,  as 
having  in  it  great  potentiality  for  boy  betterment,  we 
are  glad  to  give  it  recognition  by  printing  the  follow- 
ing outline.  Further  particulars  may  be  had  by  ad- 
dressing headquarters,  Boy  Scouts  of  America,  124 
East  28th  Street,  New  York. 

The  Boy  Scouts  is  an  organization,  the  purpose  of 
which  is  character  building  for  boys  between  the  ages 
of  twelve  and  eighteen.  It  is  an  effort  to  get  boys  to 
appreciate  the  things  about  them,  and  to  tram  them  in 
self-reliance,    manhood   and   good   citizenship.      It   is 

*See  Official  Handbook,  Boy  Scouts  of  America ;  a  hundred  and 
one  things  will  be  found  in  it  about  outdoor  life  and  play  that  will 
interest   boys. 


276  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

The  grand  essentials  of  life  are  something  to  do,  something  to  love 
and   something   to   hope   for. — Thomas    Chalmers. 

peace-scouting  these  boys  engage  in,  living  as  much 
as  possible  out  of  doors ;  camping,  hiking  and  learning 
the  secret  of  the  woods  and  fields.  The  movement  is 
not  essentially  military,  but  the  military  virtues  of  dis- 
cipline, obedience,  neatness  and  order  are  scout  vir- 
tues. Endurance,  self-reliance,  self-control  and  an 
effort  to  help  some  one  else  are  scout  objectives. 
Every  activity  that  lends  itself  to  these  aims  is  good 
scout-craft. 

The  Aim  of  the  Boy  Scouts.  The  aim  of  the  Boy 
Scouts  is  to  supplement  the  various  existing  educa- 
tional agencies,  and  to  promote  the  ability  in  boys  to 
do  things  for  themselves  and  others.  The  method  is 
summed  up  in  the  term  scout-craft,  and  is  a  combina- 
tion of  observation,  deduction  and  handiness — or  the 
ability  to  do.  Scout-craft  consists  of  first  aid,  life  sav- 
ing, tracking,  signaling,  cycling,  nature  study,  seaman- 
ship and  other  instruction.  This  is  accomplished  in 
games  and  team  play,  and  is  pleasure,  not  work,  for 
the  boy.  The  only  equipment  it  needs  is  the  out  of 
doors,  a  group  of  boys  and  a  leader. 

The  Scout's  Oath.  "Before  he  becomes  a  scout  a 
boy  must  take  the  scout's  oath,  thus: 

"On  my  honor  I  promise  that  I  will  do  my  best 
"1.     To  do  my  duty  to  God  and  my  country. 
"2.     To  help  other  people  at  all  times. 
"3.     To  obey  the  scout  law." 

The  Scout's  Salute  and  Sign.  "When  taking  this 
oath  the  scout  will  stand,  holding  his  right  hand  raised 
level  with  his  shoulder,  palm  to  the  front,  thumb  rest- 
ing on  the  nail  of  the  little  finger,  and  the  other  three 
fingers  upright,  pointing  upwards. 

"This  is  the  scout's  salute  and  secret  sign. 

"When  the  hand  is  raised  shoulder  high  it  is  called 
The  Half  Salute.' 

"When  raised  to  the  forehead  it  is  the  'Full 
Salute.'  " 


INDIANS  AND  SCOUTS  277 

When   God   has   found   a   man,    that   man   constantly   looks   around   for 
his  neighbor. — George   Macdonald. 

The  Three  Classes  of  Scouts 

Tenderfoot.  "A  boy  on  joining  the  Boy  Scouts 
must  pass  a  test  in  the  following  points  before  taking 
the  oath : 

"Know  the  scout's  laws  and  signs,  and  salute. 

"Know  the  composition  of  the  national  flag  and  the 
right  way  to  fly  it. 

"Tie  four  out  of  the  following  knots :  Reef,  sheet 
bend,  clove  hitch,  bowline,  middleman's,  fisherman's, 
sheepshank. 

"He  then  takes  the  scout's  oath,  and  is  enrolled  as 
a  tenderfoot,  and  is  entitled  to  wear  the  buttonhole 
badge." 

Second-class  Scout.  "Before  being  awarded  the 
second-class  scout's  badge  a  tenderfoot  must  pass  the 
following  tests : 

"1.  Have  at  least  one  month's  service  as  a  tender- 
foot. 

"2.     Elementary  first  aid  and  bandaging. 

"3.  Signaling,  elementary  knowledge  of  semaphore 
or  Morse  alphabet. 

"-i.  Track  half  a  mile  in  twenty-five  minutes;  or, 
if  in  a  town,  describe  satisfactorily  the  contents  of  one 
store  window  out  of  four,  observed  for  one  minute 
each. 

"5.     Go  a  mile  in  twelve  minutes  at  'scout's  pace.' 

"6.  Lay  and  light  a  fire,  using  not  more  than  two 
matches. 

"7.  Cook  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  meat  and  two 
potatoes  without  cooking  utensils  other  than  the  regu- 
lation billy. 

"8.  Have  at  least  twenty-five  cents  in  a  savings 
bank. 

"9.  Know  the  sixteen  principal  points  of  the  com- 
pass." 

First-class  Scout.  "Before  being  awarded  a  first- 
class  scout's  badge  a  scout  must  pass  the  following 


278  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Every  noble  activity  makes  room  for   itself. — Emerson. 

tests,  in  addition  to  the  tests  laid  down  for  second-class 
scouts : 

"1.  Swim  fifty  yards.  (N.  B. — This  may  be 
omitted  where  the  doctor  certifies  that  bathing  is  dan- 
gerous to  the  boy's  health,  in  which  case  he  must  run 
a  mile  in  eight  minutes,  or  perform  some  equivalent 
selected  by  the  scout  master.) 

"2.  Must  have  fifty  cents  at  least  in  the  savings 
bank. 

"3.  Signaling.  Send  and  receive  a  message  either 
in  semaphore  or  Morse,  sixteen  letters  per  minute. 

"4.  Go  on  foot,  or  row  a  boat,  alone  to  a  point 
seven  miles  away  and  return  again ;  or  if  conveyed  by 
any  vehicle  or  animal,  go  to  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles 
and  back,  and  write  a  short  report  on  it.  It  is  prefer- 
able that  he  should  take  two  days  over  it. 

"5.  Describe  or  show  the  proper  means  for  saving 
life  in  case  of  two  of  the  following  accidents  (allotted 
by  the  examiners)  :  Fire,  drowning,  runaway  carriage, 
sewer  gas,  ice  breaking,  or  bandage  an  injured  patient, 
or  revive  apparently  drowned  person. 

"6.  Cook  satisfactorily  two  out  of  the  following 
dishes,  as  may  be  directed :  Porridge,  bacon,  hunter's 
stew ;  or  skin  and  cook  a  rabbit,  or  pluck  and  cook  a 
bird."  Also  "Make  a  'damper'  of  half  a  pound  of 
flour,  or  a  'twist'  baked  on  a  thick  stick. 

"7.  Read  a  map  correctly,  and  draw  an  intelligent 
rough  sketch  map.  Point  out  a  compass  direction 
without  the  help  of  a  compass. 

"8.  Use  an  axe  for  felling  or  trimming  light  tim- 
ber ;  or  as  an  alternative,  produce  an  article  of  car- 
pentry or  joinery  or  metal  work,  made  by  himself  sat- 
isfactorily. 

"9.  Judge  distance,  size,  numbers  and  height  within 
twenty-five  per  cent  error. 

"10.  Bring  a  tenderfoot  trained  by  himself  in  the 
points  required  for  a  tenderfoot/' 

The  Scout  Law.  "1.  A  scout's  honor  is  to  be 
trusted. 


INDIANS  AND  SCOUTS  279 

Blessed   are  the  missionaries  of  cheerfulness. — Lydia   Maria   Childs. 

"If  a  scout  were  to  break  his  honor  by  telling  a  lie, 
or  by  not  carrying  out  an  order  exactly  when  trusted 
on  his  honor  to  do  so,  he  may  be  directed  to  hand  over 
his  scout  badge,  and  never  to  wear  it  again.  He  may 
also  be  directed  to  cease  to  be  a  scout. 

"2.  A  scout  is  loyal  to  his  country,  his  officers,  his 
parents,  and  his  employers.  He  must  stick  to  them 
through  thick  and  thin  against  any  one  who  is  their 
enemy  or  who  even  talks  badly  of  them. 

"3.  A  scout's  duty  is  to  be  useful  and  to  help  others. 
He  must  be  prepared  at  any  time  to  save  life  or  to 
help  injured  persons.  And  he  must  try  his  best  to  do 
a  good  turn  to  somebody  every  day. 

"4.  A  scout  is  a  friend  to  all,  and  a  brother  to  every 
other  scout,  no  matter  to  what  social  class  the  other 
belongs. 

"A  scout  must  never  be  a  snob.  A  snob  is  one  who 
looks  down  upon  another  because  he  is  poorer,  or  who 
is  poor  and  resents  another  because  he  is  rich.  A  scout 
accepts  the  other  man  as  he  finds  him,  and  makes  the 
best  of  him. 

"5.  A  scout  is  courteous.  That  is,  he  is  polite  to 
all,  but  especially  to  women  and  children,  and  old  peo- 
ple and  invalids,  cripples,  etc.  i\nd  he  must  not  take 
any  reward  for  being  helpful  or  courteous. 

''6.  A  scout  is  a  friend  to  animals.  He  should 
save  them  as  far  as  possible  from  pain,  and  should  not 
kill  any  animal  unnecessarily.  Killing  an  animal  for 
food  is  allowable. 

"7.  A  scout  obeys  orders  of  his  parents,  patrol 
leader,  or  scout  master  without  question. 

"Even  if  he  gets  an  order  he  does  not  like  he  must 
do  as  soldiers  and  sailors  do ;  he  must  carry  it  out  all 
the  same  because  it  is  his  duty;  after  he  has  done 
it  he  can  come  and  state  any  reasons  against  it ;  but  he 
must  carry  out  the  order  at  once.    That  is  discipline. 

"8.  A  scout  smiles  and  whistles  under  all  circum- 
stances. When  he  gets  an  order  he  should  obey  it 
cheerily  and  readily,  not  in  a  slow,  hangdog  sort  of 


280  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

I  am  yours  for  the  smiles  that  are  finding  a  vent 

From  a  heart  overflowing  with  Life's  sweet  content. — Anon. 

way.  Scouts  never  grumble  at  hardships,  nor  whine 
at  each  other,  nor  swear  when  put  out.  The  punish- 
ment for  swearing  or  using  bad  language  is  for  each 
offense  a  mug  of  cold  water  to  be  poured  down  the 
offender's  sleeve  by  the  other  scouts.  It  was  the  pun- 
ishment invented  by  the  old  scout,  Capt.  John  Smith, 
three  hundred  years  ago. 

"9.  A  scout  is  thrifty,  that  is,  he  saves  every  penny 
he  can  and  puts  it  into  the  bank,  so  that  he  may  have 
money  to  keep  himself  when  out  of  work,  and  thus 
not  make  himself  a  burden  to  others;  or  that  he  may 
have  money  to  give  away  to  others  when  they  need 
it." 

The  Scout  Master.  The  scout  master  is  the  adult 
leader  of  a  troop.  A  troop  consists  of  three  or  more 
patrols.  The  scout  master  may  begin  with  one  patrol. 
He  must  have  a  deep  interest  in  boys,  be  genuine  in 
his  own  life,  have  the  ability  to  lead,  and  command  the 
boys'  respect  and  obedience,  and  possess  some  knowl- 
edge of  a  boy's  ways.  He  need  not  be  an  expert  on 
scout-craft.  The  good  scout  master  will  discover  ex- 
perts for  the  various  activities.  Applications  for  scout 
masters'  certificates  may  be  made  to  the  headquarters. 
— From  "Bulletin  No.  i,"  Boy  Scouts  of  America. 

282.     WAR  GAME 

For  a  boys'  outing  with  thirty  to  two  hundred  boys 
present.  A  fine  scout  game.  Divide  into  two  armies. 
Appoint  a  general  for  each  side,  and  break  up  into 
several  patrols  or  companies.  Call  one  side  the  In- 
dians, giving  them  a  red  flag,  each  boy  to  wear  a  red 
bandanna  handkerchief  about  the  neck.  Call  the  other 
side  the  Soldiers,  giving  them  a  blue  flag,  each  boy  to 
wear  a  blue  bandanna.  Give  the  Soldiers  ten  minutes 
to  go  into  the  woods  and  establish  a  base.  They  must 
not  go  more  than  one  quarter  mile  from  headquarters 
and  must  fasten  their  flag  at  least  ten  feet  above 
ground.    Then  the  Indians  go  after  them.    Every  boy 


INDIANS  AND  SCOUTS 


281 


Nearness  is  a  divine  trust.      It  is  for  high  and  lasting  ends  that  God 
brings  human  lives  into   contact  with  their  own. — Amos  R.  Wells. 

on  both  sides  has  a  small  piece  of  white  chalk.  If  a 
boy  sees  one  of  the  enemy  he  must  go  after  him. 
Every  boy  chalked  must  return  immediately  to  head- 
quarters as  dead.  Play  for  a  definite  time — say  one 
or  two  hours.  Then  call  them  all  in,  and  see  which 
side  has  the  larger  number  chalked.  That  side  loses. 
Great  opportunity  for  scouting,  skirmishing  and  plan- 
ning campaigns.  It  is  best  to  explain  before  playing 
that  it  is  a  game  of  honor;  easy  to  cheat,  etc.,  but  of 
course  no  boy  will.  It  would  spoil  the  game.  They 
will  all  play  fair.  A  boy  cannot  turn  about  and  chalk 
the  boy  who  chalked  him.  In  case  of  doubt,  both 
return  to  headquarters.  Count  for  ones  chalked :  Gen- 
eral, ten  points;  captain  or  patrol  leader,  five;  soldier, 
one  point. 


MISCELLANEOUS 

283.     ADVANTAGES  OF  A  LARGE  SOCIAL 
ROOM 

The  advantages  of  a  large  social  room  for  boys  is 
well  demonstrated  in  the  boys'  building  at  Duluth, 
Minnesota.  The  building  occupied  by  the  boys  was 
originally  built  and  used  by  the  German  Turners,  but 
has  been  leased  for  a  term  of  years  by  the  Association. 
The  chief  room  on  the  second  floor  is  the  auditorium, 
and  beneath  this  are  the  gymnasium,  baths,  locker 
rooms  and  bowling  alleys.  There  is  a  large  stage  at 
one  end  of  the  auditorium,  and  a  gallery  at  the  other 
end.  This  gallery  has  been  enclosed  with  a  glass  and 
wood  partition,  and  the  space  is  used  for  manual  train- 
ing. A  large  room  under  the  stage  is  used  for  general 
social  purposes,  while  various  anterooms  are  used  for 
committee  and  club  purposes.  The  Association 
thought  it  wise  to  experiment  with  the  large  social 
room  before  going  to  the  expense  of  dividing  it  up 
into  the  regulation  reading  room,  game  room,  parlor, 
etc.  The  floor  space  of  the  auditorium  is  about  thirty- 
five  by  fifty  or  forty  by  sixty;  one  corner  has  been 
separated  by  a  counter  from  the  rest  of  the  room  and 
is  used  as  an  office.  The  reading  tables  and  the  game 
boards  are  placed  about  the  room  in  a  carefully 
arranged  disorder,  and  this,  with  the  decorations,  helps 
to  give  the  room  a  cozy  appearance.  There  has  been 
something  really  funny  about  the  tenacity  with  which 
Associations  have  clung  to  the  idea  that  boys  wanted 
"a  quiet  room  in  which  to  read."  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
if  there  is  one  thing  above  all  others  which  the  boy 
does  not  seem  to  want,  it  is  a  quiet  room.  Secretaries 
have  found  that  boys  would  go  into  the  quiet  reading 
room,  pick  up  a  magazine  or  book,  and  go  out  into  the 
noisy  game  room,  sitting  down  to  read  where  there  was 
something  going  on.     When  a  boy  is  interested  in  a 


284  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Do  not  mistake  sparkle  for  sociability.  The  iceberg  sparkles. — Amos 
R.   Wells. 

book,  any  amount  of  legitimate  noise  .will  not  disturb 
him  a  particle. 

One  of  the  wisest  and  most  successful  men  in  North 
America  in  handling  boys  calls  attention  to  the  differ- 
ence between  noise  and  disorder,  and  shows  how  legiti- 
mate noise  in  a  social  room  of  this  kind  is  better  order 
than  absolute  quietness-  He  likens  the  noise  of  his 
game  room  to  the  steady  hum  of  machinery,  and  says, 
with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  that  the  regular  rhythm  of 
the  various  sounds  does  not  disturb  him,  but  the 
minute  the  machinery  begins  to  speed  up  or  slow  down 
he  is  immediately  on  the  alert,  for  something  is  likely 
to  happen. 

The  Duluth  experiment  has  been  satisfactory,  and 
if  they  were  to  erect  a  new  building  for  their  boys, 
they  would  certainly  have  one  large  social  room  in 
which  the  reading  matter  and  games  would  be  placed. 

This  is  in  accord  with  the  idea  of  the  large  reception 
lobby  for  men  which  is  so  marked  a  feature  in  the 
newer  Association  buildings.  It  should  not  be  for- 
gotten, however,  that  in  addition  to  the  large  social 
room,  a  number  of  small  class,  club  and  committee 
rocms  should  be  provided.  A  few  years  ago,  very 
few  boys'  departments  had  more  than  two  or  three 
boys'  Bible  classes,  but  today  it  is  not  uncommon  to 
find  ten  or  fifteen  such  classes,  and  in  some  cases, 
already,  certain  boys'  departments  have  upwards  of 
twenty  Bible  classes,  and  it  is  found  convenient  for  a 
number  of  these  classes  to  meet  simultaneously.  The 
growth  of  the  small  club  in  the  boys'  department  also 
calls  for  the  simultaneous  use  of  several  small  rooms. 
— Association  Boys,  Vol.  VI.,  No.  2. 

284.     CHING  LEE'S  UNWORTHY  COMPLI- 
MENTS 

A  FOREIGN   WORK  SOCIAL 

The  invitation  must  be  read  as  the  Chinese  read, 


MISCELLANEOUS 


285 


Our  business  is  to  spread   Christ's  joy  among  men. 
to  be  social — to  save. — Amos  R.  Wells. 


Our   business   is 


beginning  at  the  upper  right-hand  corner  and  reading 
downward. 


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Decorate  the  lawn  and  entrance  with  Chinese  lan- 
terns  and  the  chapel  or  church  parlors   with  yellow 


286  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Bear  ye  one  another's  burdens,  and  so  fulfil  the  law  of  Christ. — Bible. 

draperies,  Chinese  parasols,  fans,  etc.  The  reception 
committee  may  wear  Chinese  costume,  not  forgetting 
the  queue.  Each  guest  is  given  a  piece  of  a  card,  bear- 
ing either  a  question  or  an  answer  on  subjects  pertain- 
ing to  China  and  Chinese  missions.  When  the  ques- 
tions and  answers  are  successfully  combined,  by  the 
aid  of  numbers  if  the  questions  are  difficult,  the  pianist 
strikes  up  a  march  and  the  procession  starts.  After 
marching  several  times  around  the  rooms,  hall  and 
porch,  giving  opportunity  to  admire  the  decorations, 
the  procession  is  brought  to  a  halt  at  a  convenient  place 
from  which  to  view  the  fireworks.  Two  or  three  short 
speeches,  patriotic  in  character,  but  especially  compar- 
ing America  and  China,  may  be  introduced,  and  the 
evening  closes  with  the  "feast''  of  cake  or  wafers  with 
ice  cream,  followed  by  a  collection  of  voluntary  con- 
tributions for  the  benefit  of  Chinese  missions. 


285.     BOYS'  WORK  DAY 

One  of  the  methods  used  by  the  boys  of  the 
Williamsport,  Pa.,  Association  for  the  raising  of  a 
fund  for  their  Manual  Training  Department  was  the 
"Work  Day." 

The  Cadets,  Juniors  and  Intermediates  (the  last 
comprising  the  students  and  employed  boys'  divisions) 
were  divided  into  twelve  teams,  averaging  thirteen 
boys  each.  All  kinds  of  jobs  were  secured.  About 
one  hundred  boys  canvassed  the  city  with  various 
household  articles ,  twenty  members  of  the  classes 
working  in  brass  sold  articles  which  they  had  made 
themselves,  others  had  jobs  about  home,  in  stores  or 
offices,  or  in  any  place  open  for  boys. 

The  "Work  Day"  was  planned  for  one  day  only, 
but  after  the  teams  were  chosen  the  boys  of  each  team 
were  so  anxious  to  make  their  particular  team  the 
winner  that  many  of  them  were  hard  at  it  ten  days 
before  the  day  set. 


MISCELLANEO  US  28? 

The   two   noblest   things  are   sweetness   and   light. — Jonathan   Swift. 

The  boys  were  not  out  soliciting  subscriptions ; 
every  cent  brought  in  was  earned  one  way  or  another. 
Some  of  them  received  good  pay ;  one  of  the  youngest 
cadets,  who  brought  in  $2.50,  earned  $1.50  of  it  by 
putting  in  three  hours  as  an  office  boy,  and  others  were 
equally  fortunate. 

The  spirit  of  self-sacrifice  was  manifested  in  a 
number  of  cases — boys  out  the  day  following  special 
"Work  Day"  looking  for  odd  jobs  in  order  to  increase 
the  earnings  of  their  teams,  even  though  the  competi- 
tive feature  of  the  team  work  was  decided  at  the  close 
of  "Work  Day." 

In  all,  the  156  boys  earned  a  little  over  $225,  no  part 
of  which  was  solicited.  All  the  articles  sold  in  the 
house-to-house  canvass  were  staple  goods,  the  prices 
charged  being  no  greater  than  the  same  article  was 
sold  for  in  the  stores. 

The  boys  are  earning  for  themselves  a  manual  train- 
ing equipment  that  will  cost  them  over  $1000 ;  they  are 
learning  the  value  of  money,  and  many  of  them  later 
were  able  to  earn  something  for  themselves  as  a  result 
of  the  "Work  Day"  experience. — G.  W.  Williams. 


286.     THE  SOCIAL  USE  OF  EMBLEMS 

The  emblem  is  doubtless  older  than  letters  if  not 
as  old  as  organized  society  itself.  Its  use  socially 
is  chiefly  as  a  recognition  sign.  Its  use  by  the  mem- 
bers of  any  organization  indicates  a  certain  esprit  de 
corps,  and  the  more  there  is  of  this  spirit  the  greater 
the  significance  of  the  badge.  Where  there  is  a  strong 
feeling  of  comradery  one  is  proud  to  wear  the  emblem 
of  the  society.  When  away  from  home  and  among 
strangers  it  is  especially  pleasing  to  meet  persons  wear- 
ing the  common  badge.  While  the  best  taste  would 
not  choose  a  too  conspicuous  form  or  size  of  badge, 
one  should  never  be  ashamed  to  put  on  the  emblem 
of  his  organization  and  to  wear  it  where  it  may  be 


288  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Great  men  had  good  mothers,  but  if  all  good  mothers  had  great  sons 
there  would  be  a  surplus. — The   Saturday    Evening   Post. 

seen.  Not  every  one,  perhaps,  wearing  the  Associa- 
tion emblem  may  be  worthy  of  fullest  trust  or  desir- 
able as  a  close  companion,  yet  it  would  be  only  broth- 
erly to  recognize  the  badge  wherever  seen  and  to 
accord  the  wearer  a  manly  courtesy.  In  doing  this  a 
fellow  runs  no  serious  risk  while  he  may  be  doing  a 
helpful  service  and  at  a  time  when  it  is  greatly  needed. 
Surely  the  members  of  a  professedly  Christian  organi- 
zation should  not  be  less  brotherly  than  those  of  the 
many  secular  societies  that  abound  on  every  hand. 
The  Associations  have  a  general  official  design,  and 
there  would  be  a  great  advantage  if  it  were  uniformly 
worn  by  our  members. 

Description  of  Official  Badge. — The  circle  signifies 
unity;  the  triangle,  the  threefold  man — spirit,  mind 
and  body;  the  Bible  is  open  at  John  xvii.  21 — "That 
they  all  may  be  one" ;  the  Greek  letters,  the  first  two 
in  the  Greek  name  of  Christ,  an  ancient  and  favorite 
monogram  of  the  Church. — H.  S.  N. 

287.     MOTHER'S   DAY 

A  few  years  ago  there  was  imported  into  this  country 
from  old  England  a  beautiful  custom — the  observance 
of  Mother's  Day.  Should  you  chance  to  notice  on 
some  spring  Sunday  many  men  wearing  white  carna- 
tions just  consult  your  calendar  and  see  if  it  be  not  the 
second  Sunday  in  May.  We  have  days  set  apart  to 
all  sorts  of  men  and  memories,  and  to  saints  galore; 
why  not  consecrate  one  day  in  the  year  to  St.  Mother  ? 
You  ask,  is  there  anything  social  in  this?  Why  not? 
The  social  unit  of  the  universe  is  the  home,  and  the 
queen  of  the  home  is  Mother.  All  men  meet  here — it 
is  common  ground.  He  who  does  not  love  the  name 
Mother  is  less  than  human.  That  fellow  is  to  be  pitied 
whose  mother  was  not  the  best  woman  in  the  world. 
Perhaps  it  was  Fred  Smith  who  put  some  such  ques- 
tion to  a  great  meeting  of  men — and  a  forest  of  arms 


MISCELLANEOUS  289 

We  need  the  ingenious  boldness  of  Paul,  ready  to  be  all  things  to 
all  men,  if  by  all  means  he  might  save  one  man. — Amos  R.  Wells. 

went  up.  Every  Association  is  full  of  young  men 
away  from  home.  A  special  service  on  a  Mother's 
Day  Sunday,  with  a  tactful  speaker,  would  be  a  bless- 
ing to  many  a  lonely  boy.  Have  a  tea  for  such  and  get 
the  fellows  to  telling  stories  of  the  old  days ;  or  gather 
about  the  piano  and  sing  some  of  the  old  home  songs. 
You  might  be  surprised  to  find  how  many  knew  them — ■ 
in  how  many  homes  the  same  songs  were  sung.  Give 
each  away-from-home  fellow  a  carnation  and  a  postage 
stamp ;  he  will  take  the  hint.  Let's  keep  Mother's 
Day.— H.  S.  N. 

288.     RECEPTION  COMMITTEE 

We  have  discovered  a  scheme  to  solve  the  difficulty 
Association  men  have  found  for  years  in  retaining  the 
interest  of  the  members  of  the  Reception  Committee, 
so  often  called  the  "Deception  Committee."  We 
organized  our  committee  into  a  literary  society,  with 
a  weekly  meeting  and  an  interesting  program.  The 
first  forty-five  minutes  are  spent  in  discussing  the  social 
and  reception  work  of  the  Association ;  the  last  hour  is 
spent  in  literary  work,  stump  speeches,  debates,  mock 
trials,  lectures,  etc.  We  have  no  difficulty  now  in 
securing  the  cooperation  of  this  committee  in  every- 
thing of  a  social  nature  about  the  building.  If  there 
is  any  laxity,  it  is  discovered  and  corrected  at  the  next 
meeting.  The  membership  of  the  committee  increased 
last  season  from  fourteen  to  twenty-five.  I  think  we 
should  have  a  copyright  on  the  scheme,  but  at  present 
it  is  open  for  the  advantage  of  the  other  fellow. — T.  F. 
Best,  Hamilton,  Out. 

289.     MEMBERSHIP   CAMPAIGNS 

These  are  best  promoted  by  choosing  the  most  popu- 
lar national  contest,  such  as  an  aeroplane  race.  If  a 
political  election  divides  the  favorite  candidates  about 


290  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

Of  all  virtues,   cheerfulness  is  the  most  profitable. — O.   S.    Marden. 

equally  in  favor  with  the  boys,  use  the  names  of  the 
candidates — local  or  national. 

A  fair  way  to  choose  two  sides  is  to  go  over  the 
membership  roll  alphabetically.  Get  local  dealers  to 
offer  two  or  three  good  prizes,  such  as  a  bicycle, 
sweaters,  etc.  A  banquet  may  be  given  with  a  place 
for  every  boy  on  the  winning  side  bringing  in  a  new 
member.  Hold  occasional  rallies  and  keep  the  stand- 
ing posted  in  some  novel  way  in  the  main  office. 
Familiar  methods  of  posting  the  record  are  the  ther- 
mometer, two  paths  (one  for  each  side)  stretching  to 
some  distant  point,  the  clock,  and  flags  on  the  building, 
denoting  the  side  ahead. 

290.     BOOSTER   CLUB 

The  club  meets  once  a  week  (around  the  dinner 
table,  usually)  where  we  boost  for  anything  that  will 
build  up  the  town  or  the  Association.  We  boosted  for 
the  new  building  campaign  for  six  months  until  the 
demand  became  so  general  that  a  campaign  was 
launched  by  the  business  men,  and  we  are  now  moving 
into  the  building.  We  boosted  for  Sunday  closing 
of  the  saloons  and  succeeded  in  that.  We  occasionally 
boost  for  an  increase  of  members,  and  always  have 
reached  the  goal  we  set.  Sometimes  we  just  boost  by 
having  meetings,  when  members  make  addresses,  and 
we  have  a  general  good  time.  New  members  are 
received,  introduced,  and  started  off  on  the  right  foot. 
Visiting  basket  ball  teams  are  banqueted.  It  has 
become  a  general  rallying  place  for  everything  that  is 
good. — R.  A.  Lang,  Stockton,  Cal. 

291.  THE  FRATERNITY  OF  A  FRATERNITY 

It  was  a  bitter  cold  day.  One  of  the  poorly  clad 
little  fellows  down  in  the  primary  department  of  a 
Massachusetts   school   was   crying   from   the   pain   of 


MISCELLANEOUS  291 

Temperance  in  everything  is  requisite  for  happiness. — B.  R.   Haydon. 

frost-bitten  fingers  and  cold  all  over.  One  of  the  Phi 
Alpha  Pi  saw  it.  A  number  of  other  members  chipped 
in,  raised  one  dollar,  bought  a  sweater,  secured  a 
second-hand  pair  of  gloves,  took  the  little  fellow  into 
the  dressing  room,  pulled  the  sweater  over  his  head, 
gave  him  the  gloves,  made  his  heart  glad,  made  the 
lines  of  his  face  horizontal  instead  of  perpendicular, 
and  left  him  to  find  his  way  back  to  his  class  room. 

The  Phi  Alpha  Pi  boys  who  started  and  did  this 
trick  were  happier  than  the  little  fellow,  because  they 
helped  the  other  fellow.  That  Chapter  is  prospering, 
too. 

292.     POPULAR  COURSE 

In  place  of  the  regular  Saturday  night  entertain- 
ments we  are  conducting  this  year  a  course  of  mem- 
bers' entertainments,  ten  in  number,  for  the  members 
and  their  friends,  ladies  included.  Tickets  will  be 
sold  at  fifty  cents  for  the  ten  programs,  and  the  list  of 
talent  is  as  good  as  the  average  winter  lecture  course. 
— H.  G.  Williamson.  Cincinnati,  0. 


293.     A  FEW  HELPFUL  BOOKS 

Suggested  by  the  principal  of  the  Central  High 
School  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  containing  outlines  of  talks 
and  suggestions  for  talks  to  high  school  students: 
Old  Tales  and  Modern  Tales,  John  Herbert  Phillip; 
The  College  Year,  Miss  Hazard;  On  Life's  Threshold, 
Wagner;  Not  in  the  Curriculum,  Henry  Van  Dyke; 
The  Young  Man's  Affairs,  Chas.  Reynolds  Brown ; 
Love  and  Loyalty,  Jenkins  Lloyd  Jones;  Afternoons 
in  the  College  Chapel,  Peabody ;  The  Silver  Cup,  Chas. 
Cuthbert  Hall ;  Personal  Power,  Tucker. 

All  publications  mentioned  in  this  book  may  be 
secured  through  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Press,  124  East  28th 
Street,  New  York. 


292  SOCIAL  ACTIVITIES 

May  God  grant  wit  to  the  brains  of  His  servants,  tact  to  their  hearts, 
and  warmth  to  their  hands! — Amos  R.  Wells. 

294.     NEW  MEMBERS'   MEETING 

Detroit  invites  monthly  the  new  members  to  meet 
the  membership  committee  at  a  dinner,  when  a  plan  of 
securing  100  new  applications  in  the  next  four  days 
is  proposed,  with  a  supper  on  the  closing  evening,  to 
which  rally  all  the  new  members  are  invited.  In  five 
months  these  rallies  have  netted  700  men.  By  this 
plan  every  new  member  is  led  immediately  to  do  his 
best  to  enlist  his  friends  and  to  learn  that  success 
depends  on  him.  Fine  committee  material  is  devel- 
oped, men  get  acquainted  and  are  assimilated. 

295.     INTERESTING  NON-MEMBERS 

Boys  usually  have  much  idle  time  during  vacation 
days.  It  seems  a  good  thing  to  interest  non-members 
in  the  department.  They  may  be  invited  to  attend 
some  of  the  summer  features.  Boys  who  might 
become  leaders  could  be  invited  on  the  short  camping 
trips  or  tramps.  Some  plan  should  be  devised  to 
secure  the  name,  address  and  age  of  any  non-members 
taking  advantage  of  any  invitation  extended  them,  so 
they  may  be  followed  up. — A.  A.  Jameson. 


Alphabetical  Index 


References  in  italics  refer  to  Contents,  page  vi  •  references  in  nar^n 
theses  refer  to  Classified  or  Special  Index  rererences  in  paren- 

The  figures  in  the  indexes  refer  to  the  Paragraph  numbers. 


A 

Advantages  of  a  Large  Social 

Room     283 

"Affirmative,"    The    "  '  112 

Agricultural    Club    '.'.'.220 

Alice  in   Wonderland    121 

All   Nations,    Nights   of    28 

"Alouette"    211 

Amateur  Night   .....125 

Amateur  Plays 129,  130 

Animal  Social    8 

Animals,    Wild    . . . . .' .' .' .' .' .' '  77 

Ankle    Throw 94 

Annual  Members'   Banquet    .  .."46 

Apple    Social     11 

April  Fool  Social   135 

Art    Gallery     115 

Association    Institute    Song  '  '.  '.  195 
Association     Intervisitation 

Socials     267 

Athletic   Outing    161 

Athletic    Supper      164 

Audubon   Society    235 

Authors'  Initials .'/      72 

Autograph  Scripture  Social. '.'.  !i85 
Automobile     Carnival 245 

B 

Bachelors'  Club 222 

Bakes,    Clam    276 

Battle,    Cottonball    '   82 

Ball,    Volley    \\66 

Basket,    Thanksgiving   or 

Christmas   154 

Bent   Iron-work   Club    ...227 

Bible    Class,    Bicycle    182 

Bible   Class  Socials    !i88 

Bible  Classes,  To  Organize 181 

Bible    Salad     180 

Bible  Study  Outing .189 

Bible    Study    Supper    186,    187 

Bible  Test    179 

Biblical    Dramas     190 

Bicycle  Bible  Class   182 

"Big  Smoke,"  Indian  Sketch     130 

Bird  Study 235 

Birthday,  Lincoln's 138,  139 

Birthday,    Washington's.  .  139,    140 

Blindfold    Boxing    Match     101 

Blowing   Candle    113 

Board  and   Committee  Feeds... 44 

Book    Club    for    Boys    239 

Booster  Club   290 

Bottle   Balancing    104 


Botanizing    Rambles    262 

Boys    (See  special   index) 

Boys'   City,  A    254 

Jjoy    Scouts    of   America 281 

'Boys    of   Washington" 192 

Boys'  Own  Tour    244 

Bowling   Club    168 

Busy    Builders'    Club    233 

Buz"    71 

C 

Calendar    Exhibit    219 

Camera   Clubs    217,  *218 

Camera    Rambles    275 

Camp     Dudley     Stunts.       See' 
footnote   on   page    181. 

Camp   Fires    273 

Camp   Jollification    "  ^264 

Camp    Reunion    27 

Camp  Songs  and  Yells 191,214 

Campaign,     Financial     290 

Campaign,    Membership    289 

Camping,     Overnight     243 

Camps     and     Camping.       See 
Camps   and    Outings. 

Cane    Walk    91 

Canoe   Building   Club    221 

Carnival,    Motoring    245 

Carnival,   Water    258 

Cat    Party    69 

Catch    Penny     97 

Catholic    Knights,    junior    242 

Cheer  up  the  Railroad  Men    ..155 

Chew  the  String 107 

Chicago    Physical   Department    163 
Ching_  Lee's    Unworthy    Com- 
pliments     284 

Christmas     157,  153 

Circus,  How  to  Conduct  a    ...114 

City    for    Boys,    A 254 

Civic  Debate   173 

Clam    Bakes    276 

Class    Socials,    Bible    186,  187,  188 
Classes,    Boys'    Bible    181,  182,  183 

Classes,    Morning   Bible    183 

Cleveland  Rough  Riders 248 

Cleveland    Songs    and    Yells    ..205 

Cliff   Dwellers'   Dinner    43 

Club,    Lunch    232 

Club,    Stunt     126 

Club,   Yaphank   Whittling 116 

Clubs,    Camera    217,218 

Clubs    for    Boys    (See    special 

index). 
Cocoa    Spree    162 


294 


INDEX 


Coin  and  Card  Snap   92 

College  Preparatory  Reception    20 

College    Reception    24 

College  Men's  Dinner   42 

Colonial    Play    129 

Commencement,     Mock     High 

School   264 

Committees    (See   special  index). 

Constantinople     108 

Contest,    Piano    Players'    81 

Contest,    Story-telling 26 

Contest,     Word     35 

Convention,    Political    98 

Corn    Roasts    268 

Corps,   Wigwag  Signal    266 

Cottonball    Battle    82 

County    Fair    119 

Course,  Popular  292 

D 

"Dear  Old  Pals"   205 

Debate  Civic    173 

Delivery,    Christmas    Parcel...  153 

Department    Store    Boys    48 

Department     Store     Reception     55 
Department    Work,    Religious. 
See    Department    Special- 
ties   (also    special    index). 

Diary    Club 231 

Diary,    Vacation    231 

Dime    Social    5 

Dinner,   Indian    189 

Dinners — See  Banquets  and 
Dinners  (also  special 
index). 

Directors'    Social    30 

"Dixie"      193 

Dog  Fight    87 

Dormitory   Club    43 

Dramas,    Biblical    190 

Dudley  Stunts,  Camp.  See 
footnote  on   page   181. 

E 

Easter  Social 136 

Educational  Department  Song     195 

Educational    Exhibit    176 

Educational     Reception     174 

Educational    Social    175 

Educational    Tours     170 

Eisteddfod,    Welsh     123 

Election   Day   Outing    247 

Election   Night    147 

Emblems,  Social  Use  of 286 

Employed    Boys'    Club    240 

Employed   Boys   in   Summer    ...53 
Entertaining    Men     and    Boys 

from    a    Department  Store.  .  55 

Eskimo    Race    79 

Evening  Camp  Song 214 

Evening,    Musical    37 

Evening,   Postcard   32 

Evenincrs  in   Camp   251 

Excursion,  Moonlight   271 

Exhibit,  Camera  Club 219 

Exhibit,    Educational     176 


Exhibits,   Loan,  etc 124 

Exhibition,  Harvest 127 

"E  Yip  I  Addy  I  Ay" 199 

F 

Factory    Men    56 

Factory  Reception    54 

Fair,  County    119 

Fake  Track  Meet   165 

Fall   Rallies    12 

Fathers'  and  Sons'  Social   7 

Fencing   Club    225 

Festival,   Happyland    252 

Fight,    Dog    , 87 

Fight,     Rooster     95 

Financial    Campaign    290 

Financial      Dinners,      Sugges- 
tions for    47 

Finger  Jump    102 

Fire  Department   Reception    ..167 

Fires,    Camp    273 

Flowers,    Hidden    40 

Fool   Social,  April 135 

Foreign  Work  Social    284 

Forfeits    107-113 

Fourth  of  July    142 

Fraternity    Social    Service    ....291 

G 

Games     (See    special    index — 
General    Social    Events). 

Games,   Greek    160 

Garden,   Roof  or   Summer   ....270 

Ghost   Minstrels    31 

Girls,   Y.  W.   C.   A 151 

Glee    Club,    Boys'    223 

Greek  Games 160 

Grouping    Clubs,    Rules    for.  .  .215 

"Guess"     39 

Guitar  and  Mandolin  Club 229 

Gum    Game    36 

Gym    Men's    Song    200 

Gym    Song     194 

Gypsy    Trips    253,255 

H 
Halloween    145 

Happyland  Festival   252 

"Harrigan"     191 

Harvest    Exhibition     127 

"Hash,    Story    of    the    Second 

Section"    59 

Haystack     110 

Helpful    Books    293 

Hidden  Flowers    40 

High   Jump    83 

High  School  (See  special  index). 

Hiking   Club    '..259 

"Hoch    der    Lieber"    Song.... 203 
Holidays   (See  special  index). 

Home  Receptions 4 

"Hot  Air"    Ill 

House,    Open    22,132,133 

How    to    Run    a    Camp.     See 

footnote     to     Camps    and 

Outings. 
Hustline  Club 177 


INDEX 


295 


I 

Idea  for  using  Boys'  Names   ..59 

"Imposition,    Jimtown"    11/ 

Indian    Dinner    .....189 

Indian  Sketch,  "Big  Smoke    ..130 

Indian    Wrestle     .96 

Indians,    Seton .  .  278 

Industrial    (See  special  index). 

Initials     -64 

Institute    Song,    Association    ..195 

Interesting    Non-members    295 

International  Social 3 

Intervisitation     Socials,    Asso- 
ciation       267 

"In    the    Good    Old    Camping 

Time"    206 

"I've    been    Working    on    the 

Railroad"     197 

J 

"Jenkins  Up"    68 

"Jimtown    Imposition"    11/ 

"John   Brown's   Body"    106 

Jollification,    Camp    264 

Jump,    Finger    102 

Jump,    High     83 

Jumping    Race,    Eskimo    79 

Junior  Catholic  Knights 242 

Junior   Commercial   Club    240 

"June,  July  and  Augustine"   ..203 

K 

Knights,  Junior   Catholic.  ....  .242 

Knights  of  the  Sacred  Whistle   75 
Know,  Men  We   34 

L 

Labor    Day    Social    143 

Labor  Unions    57 

Ladies'     Nights     (See    special 

index — Socials    for    Ladies). 
Large    Social    Room,    Advan- 
tages  of    283 

Lawn    Social    270 

Laws  of  the  Seton  Indians 278 

Leaders'    Camp   Song    208 

Leaders'   Corps   169 

Left-handed    Social    15 

Lend   a   Hand    238 

Lincoln's    Birthday    138,139 

Lincoln  Evening 138 

Loan    Exhibits,    etc 124 

Lobby  Club   230 

Lodges     57 

Long    Reach,   The    .66 

Lunch  Club   232 

M 

Magic    Gift    -86 

Mandolin  and  Guitar   Club   ...229 

Marooning  Parties   250 

"Mary  Had  a  Little  Lamb"   ..201 
Masquerade,  Halloween   146 


Masquerade    Party     120 

Match,  Blindfold  Boxing 101 

Matches,    Trick    105 

Mathematics,    Problems   in    ...172 

Meetings,   New   Members'    294 

Members    (See  special  index). 

Membership    Campaigns     289 

Memorial    Day    141 

Men's  Dinners,   College    42 

Men,     Railroad     (See     special 
index). 

"Men    We    Know"     34 

Mind-Reading    61 

Minstrels    (See    special    index — 

Dramatic). 
Mock   College   Athletic   Meet    ..63 
Mock       High      School      Com- 
mencement      264 

Mock  Trial    60,  128 

Monthly    Stag,    Members'    23 

Moon,  Trip  to  the   122 

Moonlight  Excursions 271 

Morning    Bible    Classes    183 

Morning   Bible    Study   Song    ..212 
"Mother    Was     Chasing     Her 

Boy,  A,"  etc 202 

Mother's    Day  _ 287 

Motoring    Carnival     245 

Moving    Pictures    29 

Musical    Evening    37 

Musical    Instruments    76 

Musical    Organizations    236 

Mystery  Ramble,  Halloween  . .  144 

N 

Names     of     Boys,     Idea     for 

Using     59 

Nations,  Nights  of  All   28 

Nature   Study    260 

New  Jersey  State  Song   196 

New  "Members    294 

Newsboys'    Banquet    41 

New   Year's   Day    131 

Night,   Amateur    125 

Night,    Election    147 

Night,     Ladies     (See     special 
index — Socials    for    Ladies). 

"Nighters,    Saturday"    13 

Nights   of   All   Nations    28 

Non-Members,  To  Interest   ...295 

Noted     Orators     89 

Novelty    Socials    1? 

O 

"Observation"    (Game)    100 

Observation    Parties    1 70 

Ohio  Gvpsies 255 

Open   House    ...I 22,  132,  133 

Orators,    Noted     89 

Organizing         Boys'         Bible 

Classes    J81 

Oriental   Research   Club    178 

Outings    (See   special   index) 

Out-of-door   Bible   Study    189 

Overnight  Camping 243 

Overnight    Tramps    256 


296 


INDEX 


Palm    Social    9 

Paper   Carriers,   Evening  With.  50 
Parcel     Delivery,     Christmas.  .  153 

Parents'   Reception    7 

Parlor  Field  Meet 118 

Parlor     Tricks     (See     special 
index). 

Parties,    Observation    170 

Parties,  Sight-seeing 261 

Parties,   Swimming    263 

Parties,    Tramping    269 

Patriotic   (See  special  index). 

Paul  Social   184 

Pavilion  Socials   272 

Peanut  Party    58 

"Peddler  and  Spy"   130 

Penny   Wise    62 

People's   Societies,   Young    25,  52 
Philadelphia  Scheme  of  Club- 
Grouping      216 

Physical    Department    Socials 
(See   special   index — Phy- 
sical  Department). 
Physical    Department,    Social 

Life    in     159 

Piano  Players'   Contest    81 

Piazza   Socials    272 

Plays     (See     special    index — 
Dramatic). 

Plays,  Where  to   Find   130 

Political    Convention    98 

Pool,    Swimming    70 

Popular   Course    292 

Postcard   Evening    32 

Poster   Club    224 

"Praise  Him" 212 

Preparatory   Social,  College    ...20 

President's   Reception    1 

Press   Social    6 

Problems  in  Mathematics   ....172, 
Pyrography    Club    237 

R 

Race,    Eskimo    79 

Race,   Water  and   Cracker    ....88 
Railroad     Men     (See     special 
index). 

Railway  Social   17 

Rallies,    Fall     12 

Rally,     Young     People's     So- 
cieties'     25 

Rambles     265 

Ramble,  Halloween  Mystery..  144 
Rambles,  Camera  and  Sketch 

Club    275 

Reception    Committee     288 

Receptions   (See  special  index). 

Recognition     67 

Religious    Work    Department 
(See   special  index — Reli- 
gious). 
Representative    Committee    ....51 
Reproduction  of  Greek  Games  160 
Reunion,    Camp    27 


Reunion,    Members'     14 

Rides,     Straw     274 

Roanoke,  Wild  Indians  of 280 

Roasts,    Corn 268 

"Romance,  A  Virginia"   130 

Roof    Garden     270 

Room,  Advantages  of  a  Large 

Social    283 

Rooming  House  Investigation  230 

Rooster  Fight   95 

Rough    Riders,    Cleveland    248 

Rules     for      Grouping     Boys' 

Clubs     215 


St.    Patrick's  Day  Dinner    ....134 

Salad,    Bible    180 

Salmagundi   Party    18 

"Saturday    Nighters"    13 

"Saviour,  Breathe  an  Evening 

Blessing,"    song    214 

Schools,     High     (See     special 

index). 

Scouts  of  America,  Boy    281 

Scripture   Autograph   Social.  .  .  185 

Sea    Trip    249 

Seton    Indians    278 

Shop  Men    (See  special  index 

— Industrial) . 

Sight-seeing   Parties    261 

Signal  Corps,  Wigwag   266 

"Silver  Bay,"  song   210 

"Skedaddle    to    Schenectady," 

song     198 

Sketch   Club    275 

Sketch,  Indian,  "Big  Smoke"   130 

Sketches    (game)    65 

Skin  the  Snake 74 

Small  Clubs  for  Boys 228 

Smile  Club   241 

"Smile   Whene'er  You   Can".  .209 

Snapping  Turtles   279 

Snowball    Party 152 

Social    Room,    Advantages    of 

a    Large    283 

Socials    (See    special    index — 

General   Socials). 

Social  Use  of  Emblems 286 

Societies,    Young    People's    25,  52 
"So  Near  and   Yet  So   Far"..  109 

Songs  and    Yells    191-214 

Special     Attractions    for    Em- 
ployed   Boys    53 

Spelling  Matches   171 

Stag,    Members'    Monthly    23 

Stamp  Club   226 

Standing  Toe   Wrestle    103 

Start   Something,   To    78 

Store   Boys,   Department    48 

"Story      of      Second      Section 

Hash"    59 

Story-Telling    Contest     26 

Straw    Rides    274 

Strength  Test    .99 

Strength    Test    with    Glass    of 

Water      85 


INDEX 


297 


String,  Chew  the   107 

Study,      Bible      (See      special 
index — Religious) . 

Study,    Nature    260 

Stunt  Club   126 

Supper,    Bible    Study    186,187 

Supper,   Leaders'  Corps    169 

Summer  at  the   Building 277 

Summer  Garden    270 

Summer    Recreation    Rally    ...246 

Surprise  Social    8 

Surveying    Club    234 

Swimming   Parties    263 

Swimming  Pool,  For  the 70 

T 

"Taps"    207 

Telegrams     38 

Test,  Bible 179 

Thanksgiving     149,  150 

Thanksgiving    Program    148 

Thanksgiving    Dinner,    Money 

for    156 

Think   of  a   Number    73 

Throw,   Ankle    94 

Thumbs  Up   84 

"Tin   Dooley"    204 

To    Interest    Non-members    ...295 
To       Organize      Boys'      Bible 

Classes     181 

To   Start   Something    78 

Tours  for  Boys 244 

Tours,     Observation     170 

Trade  Receptions    49 

Tramping    Parties    269 

Tramps,    Overnight    256 

Trial,    Mock    60,  128 

Trick   Matches    105 

Tricks  for   Boys,  Three    80 

Tricks,     Parlor     (See     special 

index). 

Trip   Around   the   World    33 

Trip,     Sea     249 

Trip  to   the   Moon    122 

Triumph,  The    93 

Turtle  Indians,  The  Snapping      279 


U 

Uncle    Sam    Evening,    Fourth 

of   July    142 

University    Reception    16 

V 

Vacation    Diary    231 

Valentine    Day    137 

Virginia   Romance,  A   130 

Volley   Ball    166 

W 

Walk,   Cane   91 

War  Game 282 

Washington's     Birthday      140 

Washington    Songs   and    Yells 

191-193 

Water  and   Cracker   Race    88 

Water    Carnival    258 

Wawayanda  Grace   213 

Wawayanda    Song    197 

Welsh  Eisteddfod 123 

"We've  Been  Up  to  Wawa- 
yanda"      197 

What  Am  I  ?   90 

Where  to   Find  Plays   130 

Whistle,  Knights  of  the  Sacred  75 

Whittling  Club,   Yaphank 116 

Wigwag   Signal    Corps    266 

Wild    Animals     77 

Wild  Indians  of  Roanoke 280 

"Willie's    Billy    Goat    "    201 

With  the  Y.  W.  C.  A 151 

Wood-burning    Club    237 

Word    Contest    35 

Work   Day,   Boys'    285 

Work  Department,  Religious 
(See  special  index — Reli- 
gious). 

World,   Trip  Around  the 33 

Wrestle,     Indian     96 

Wrestle,    Standing   Toe    103 

Y 

Yaphank  Whittling  Club   116 

Young   People's    Societies    ..25,52 
Y.  W.  C.  A 151 


Classified  Index 


BANQUETS    AND    DINNERS. 

Athletic     164 

Bible    Study    186,  187 

Board  and   Committee    44 

Bowling   Club    168 

Cliff    Dwellers'     (Dormitory 

Club)     43 

College  Men's 42 

Educational    Department    174 

Financial    Campaign    290 

High   School    45 

Leaders'   Corps   169 

Lunch  Club    232 

Members'    Annual    46 

Membership    Campaign     289 

New    Members    294 

Newsboys'       50 

Railroad  Men's  Christmas 155 

St.  Patrick's  Day   134 

Thanksgiving     149,150 

Volley    Ball    League    166 

Washington's   Birthday    140 

BOYS. 

Advantages  of  a  Large  Social 

Room     283 

Amateur  Concert    125 

Amateur  Night 125 

Amateur  Plays    129,  130 

Animal   Social    8 

Ankle    Throw    94 

April  Fool  Social   135 

Athletic    Feats    (See    Physical 

Department). 

Athletic    Outing    161 

Authors'    Initials    72 

Bible   Class  Organizations   ....181 

Bible  Study  Outing 189 

Bible  Studv  Supper 186,  187 

Bicycle    Bible    Class    182 

Blowing    Candle     113 

Bottle   Balancing    104 

Boy   Scouts  of  America    281 

Boys'    City,    A    254 

"Bovs  of  Washington" 192 

Boys'   Own  Tour    244 

"Buz"    71 

Camp   Fires    .273 

Camp  and  Camping  (See  special 

index). 

Cane   Walk    91 

Cat    Party     69 

Catch    Pennv     97 

Chew  the  String 107 

Christmas      or      Thanksgiving 

Basket     154 

Christmas    Parcel    Delivery     ..153 


Clam    Bakes    276 

Coin  and  Card  Snap 92 

College    Preparatory    Social....  20 

Constantinople     108 

Corn    Roasts    268 

Department    Store    Boys'    Re- 
ception     55 

Diary   Club    231 

Dog  Fight    87 

Easter    Social    136 

Educational    Tours     170 

Election   Day   Outing    247 

Eskimo    Race    79 

Evening  Fun  in  Camp    251 

Fall   Rallies    12 

Finger  Jump        102 

Forfeits      107-113 

Fraternity   Service    291 

Gum    Game    36 

"Guess"       39 

Gypsy   Trips    253,255 

Halloween    145 

Halloween  Mystery   Ramble    .  .  144 

Haystack    110 

Hidden   Flowers    40 

High   Jump    83 

High    School    Banquet    45 

High  School  Bible  Social 188 

High   School    Reception    2 

High    School   Athletic   Social    ..10 

"Hot  Air"    Ill 

How  to    Run  a   Camp.     Foot- 
note to  Camps  and  Outings. 
Idea  for  Using  Boys'  Names   ..59 

Indian   Wrestle   96 

Initials     64 

Interesting    Non-members    ....295 

"J  enkins     Up"     68 

Junior   Catholic    Knights    242 

Knights   of  the   Sacred  Whistle   75 

Ladies'   Night    188 

Long   Reach,    The    66 

Magic    Gift     86 

Marooning    Parties    250 

Membership  Campaign 289 

Memorial    Day    141 

Men  We  Know 34 

Mind  Reading 61 

Mock   College   Athletic   Meet... 63 

Morning   Bible    Class    183 

Musical    Evening    37 

Musical    Instruments     76 

Nature    Study    260 

Newsbovs'    Banquet    41 

Noted     Orators     89 

Observation    Parties    170 

Ohio    Gvpsies    255 

Open     House     22,   132,   133 

Outings  and  Hikes   (See  Out- 
ings). 


INDEX 


299 


Overnight    Camping    243 

Paper    Carriers,    Evening    with    50 

Parlor    Field    Meet    118 

Peanut    Party    58 

Penny  Wise 62 

Postcard    Evening 32 

Problems  in   Mathematics    172 

Recognition      67 

Rooster   Fight 95 

Rough  Riders    248 

Rules   for    Grouping    Clubs    ...215 

Salmagundi    Party    18 

Scouts  of  America,  Boy 281 

Sea  Trip 249 

Seton    Indians     278 

Sight-seeing    Parties    261 

Sketches    65 

Skin   the   Snake    74 

Small  Clubs  for  Boys 228 

"So  Near  and  Yet  So  Far"...  109 
Special     Summer     Attractions 

for    Employed    Boys    53 

Stamp    Club     226 

Standing    Toe    Wrestle    103 

Straw    Rides    274 

Strength  Tests    99 

Summer  at  the  Building    277 

Summer    Camp    Jollification    ..264 

Swimming   Parties    263 

Telegrams     38 

The   "Affirmative"    H2 

The   Triumph    93 

Think  of  a  Number 73 

Three  Tricks  for  Boys   80 

"Thumbs    Up"    84 

Trick   Matches    105 

Trip  Around  the  World    33 

Vacation   Diaries    231 

Water   and  Cracker   Race    88 

What   Am    I?    90 

Wigwag   Signal    Corps    266 

Wild   Animals    77 

Word  Contest   35 

Work    Day     285 

CAMPS  AND  CAMPING. 

A   Boys'    City    254 

Camp    Dudley    Social    Events. 
Footnote,   page    181. 

Diary    Club    231 

Evening  Fun  at  Camp    251 

Gypsy   Trips    253,  255 

How  to    Run   a   Camp.     Foot- 
note, Camps  and  Outings. 

Marooning    Parties    250 

Overnight    Tramps    256 

Reunion     -27 

Seton   Indians    278 

Songs    and    Yells    for    Camp. 
See   Songs   and    Yells. 

Vacation   Camp   Diaries    231 

Wigwag  Signal  Corps 266 

CLUBS   FOR    BOYS 

Agricultural    m 220 

Audubon    Society     235 


Bent   Iron   Work    227 

Bicycle  Bible  Class   182 

Book     239 

Busy    Builders'     233 

Camera      217,218 

Canoe    Building    221 

Cleveland   Rough   Riders    248 

Diary     231 

Fencing     225 

Glee     223 

Hiking     259 

Hustling     177 

Junior  Catholic  Knights 242 

Junior    Commercial    240 

Mandolin   and   Guitar    229 

Musical     236 

Nature   Study    260 

Poster      224 

Pyrography    237 

Scouts     of     America 281 

Seton   Indians 278 

Small     228 

Smile     241 

Stamp      226 

Surveying     234 

Wood-burning    Club    237 

COMMITTEES. 

Bachelor    Club    222 

Board  and   Committee   Feeds... 44 

Booster  Club   290 

Dormitory    Club     43 

Lobby    Club    230 

Piazza    Meetings    272 

Reception     _ 288 

Representative   Committees 51 

DRAMATIC. 

Amateur  Night 125 

Amateur  Plays    129,  130 

Biblical    Dramas     190 

"Big  Smoke,"  Indian   Sketch..  130 

Colonial    Play    129 

Ghost    Minstrels     31 

Play,   "Peddler   and    Spy" 130 

Play,    "A    Virginia    Romance"    130 

Where   to    Find    Plays    130 

Welsh        Eisteddford        (Bur- 
lesque)        ^23 

Yaphank  Whittling  Club    116 

EDUCATIONAL. 

Agricultural    Club    220 

Audubon   Society    235 

Bent  Iron  Work  Club 227 

Book    Club     239 

Botanizing   Rambles    262 

Boys'   Own  Tour    244 

Busy  Builders'  Club    233 

Camera    Club    217,218 

Canoe   Building   Club    221 

Ching  Lee's  Compliments    . ...2S4 

Civic    Debate    173 

Diary    Club    231 


300 


INDEX 


Educational    Banquet    174 

Educational     Exhibit     176 

Educational   Reception    174 

Educational    Social    175 

Glee    Club    223 

Junior   Commercial   Club    240 

Loan    Exhibits,    etc 124 

Mandolin  and   Guitar   Club    ...229 

Men    We    Know     34 

Nature   Study    260 

Nights  of  All  Nations    28 

Observation    Parties    170 

Oriental  Research  Club    178 

Postcard    Evening    32 

Poster    Club    224 

Press    Social    6 

Pyrography   Club    237 

Reception   Committee    288 

Recognition    67 

Reproduction  of  Greek  Games.  160 

Sketches     65 

Stamp    Club     226 

Surveying     Club     234 

Trip  Around  the  World 33 

Washington's  Birthday  Dinner  140 

Wigwag  Signal  Corps  .... 266 

Wood-burning    Club    237 

ENTERTAINMENTS. 

Amateur  Night 125 

Amateur  Plays   129,  130 

Biblical    Dramas     190 

"Big  Smoke,"  Indian  Sketch   .130 

Christmas     157,158 

Civic    Debate     173 

Colonial    Play    129 

County    Fair    119 

Holiday    Evenings    (See   Holi- 
days). 

International    Social    3 

"Jimtown    Imposition"    117 

Labor  Day   Social    143 

Lincoln    Evening    138 

Masquerade  Party    120 

Members'  Annual   Banquet    ....46 

Mock    Trial     60,   128 

Moving    Pictures    29 

New    Year's     131 

Nights  of  All  Nations    28 

Palm    Social    9 

"Peddler  and   Spy"    130 

'  Piano  Players'  Contest 81 

Popular    Course    292 

Story   Telling    Contest    26 

Stunt  Club   126 

The  New  Member   294 

Valentine    Social     137 

"Virginia    Romance"     130 

Welsh    Eisteddfod    123 

Where  to  Find  Plays    130 

Yaphank  Whittling  Club    116 

GENERAL  SOCIAL  EVENTS. 

Animal    Social     8 

Ankle    Throw    94 

Apple   Social    ....  11 


April  Fool  Social   135 

Art   Gallery    115 

Association     Intervisitation 

Socials     267 

Authors'    Initials    72 

Bible   Salad    180 

Bible  Test    179 

Blindfold   Boxing  Match    101 

Blowing   Candle    113 

Bottle   Balancing    104 

Bowling   Club    168 

"Buz"    71 

Camera    Clubs    217,218 

Camera      and      Sketch      Club 

Rambles    275 

Camp   Fires    273 

Cane    Walk    91 

Cat    Party    69 

Catch   Penny   97 

Chew  the  String 107 

Clam    Bakes    276 

Coin  and  Card  Snap   92 

College   Preparatory   Social    ....20 

"Constantinople"    108 

Corn    Roasts    268 

Cottonball  Battle    82 

County    Fair    119 

Dime    Social     5 

Directors'    Social    30 

Dog  Fight    87 

Easter    Social    136 

Educational    Social    175 

Eskimo    Race    79 

Evening  Fun  at  Camp   251 

Fake   Track   Meet    165 

Fall   Rallies    12 

Fathers'  and   Sons'   Social    7 

Finger    Jump     102 

Fire    Department    Socials    ....167 

Forfeits    107-113 

"Guess"     39 

Gum    Game    36 

Happyland  Festival   252 

Haystack    110 

Hidden   Flowers   40 

High     Jump     83 

High       School       Bible       Class 

Socials 188 

High      School      Socials      (See 

High   School). 

Home    Receptions    4 

"Hot  Air"    Ill 

Indian  Wrestle   96 

Initials 64 

International    Social    3 

"Jenkins  Up"    68 

Knights  of  the   Sacred  Whistle   75 

Labor  Day   Social    143 

Lawn    Socials    270 

Left-handed    Social    15 

Lend    a    Hand    238 

Loan  Exhibits,  etc 124 

Long    Reach,   The    66 

Magic    Gift    86 

Masquerade  Parties   120 

Members'    Reunion    14 

Men   We  Know    34 


INDEX 


301 


Mind    Reading    61 

Mock   Trial    60,  128 

Monthly   Stag    23 

Moonlight    Excursion    271 

Mother's  Day    287 

Motoring    Carnival     245 

Moving    Pictures    29 

Musical    Evening    37 

Musical    Instruments     76 

Nature   Study    260 

Nights  of  All  Nations   28 

Noted    Orators    89 

Novelty    Socials    19 

Open    House     22,  132,  133 

Overnight    Camping    243 

Palm  Social   9 

Paul    Social    184 

Penny    Wise    62 

Piazza    Social    272 

Political   Convention    98 

Postcard    Evening    32 

Press    Social    6 

Problems  in   Mathematics    172 

Railway    Social     17 

Recognition    67 

Rooster    Fight    95 

Salmagundi     Party     18 

"Saturday    Nighters"     13 

Scripture  Social    185 

Sight-seeing    Parties    261 

Sketches      65 

Skin    the    Snake    74 

Smile    Club    241 

"So  Near  and  Yet  So  Far"...  109 

Spelling  Matches    171 

Standing   Toe   Wrestle    103 

Straw    Rides    274 

Strength    Tests 99 

Summer  at  the   Building    277 

Summer    Camp    Jollification    ..264 

Telegrams     38 

The    Triumph    93 

Think   of  a   Number    73 

Three  Tricks  for  Boys   80 

"Thumbs    Up"    84 

To   Start   Something   78 

Trade    Receptions    49 

Tramping    Parties    269 

Trick   Matches    105 

Trip   Around   the   World    33 

Water  and   Cracker   Race    88 

Water    Carnival    258 

What   Am    I?    90 

Wild  Animals    77 

Word    Contest    35 

Young  People's  Society  Outing 

25,  52 

HIGH    SCHOOLS    AND 
COLLEGES. 

College  Men's  Dinner 42 

College   Preparatory   Social    ....20 
Fraternity  of  a  Fraternity   .  .  .  .291 

High    School    Banquet    45 

High    School    Boys    and    Girls 

Out-of-Doors     257 


High   School   Reception    2 

Ladies'  Night    188 

Mock   College  Athletic   Meet    ..63 

Reception  to  Local  College 24 

University     Reception     16 

Washington  High  School  Social  10 

HOLIDAYS. 

April   Fool   Day    135 

Christmas     157,  158 

Easter 136 

Election    Day    247 

Fourth  of  July    142 

Halloween    145 

Labor    Day    143 

Lincoln's    Birthday    138 

Memorial     Day     141 

New   Year's  Day    131 

St.    Patrick's    Day    134 

Thanksgiving      149,150 

Valentine     Day     137 

Washington's   Birthday    140 

INDUSTRIAL— MEN   AND 
BOYS. 

Department    Store    Boys    48 

Factory    Men    56 

Junior    Commercial    Club    240 

Loan    Exhibit,   etc 124 

Newsboys'    Banquet     41 

Paper  Carriers'   Banquet    50 

Shop   Men's   Social    51 

Trade    Receptions    49 

Young  People's  Societies    ..25,  52 

MEMBERS    AND    NON- 
MEMBERS. 

Booster    Club    290 

Interesting    Non-members    295 

Members'  Annual   Banquet 46 

Members'   Monthly    Stag    23 

Members'    Reunion    14 

Membership    Campaign     289 

New   Members'    Meeting    294 

Newsbovs'    Banquet     41 

Paper  Carriers'  Banquet    50 

Parlor  Field  Meet    118 

Reception    Committee    288 

The  New  Member 294 

MUSICAL. 

Glee    Club    223 

Lincoln    Evening    138 

Mandolin  and   Guitar  Club    ...229 

Musical    Evening    37 

Musical    Instruments     76 

New    Year's 1 3 1 

Piano    Players'    Contest    SI 

Songs    and    Yells    191-214 

The    New    Member    294 

Uncle    Sam    Evening    142 

Valentine    Social     137 


302 


INDEX 


OUTINGS. 

Agricultural    Club    ... ....220 

Association     Intervisitation 

Socials     267 

Athletic     161 

Audubon   Society    235 

Bicycle  Bible  Class   182 

Boys'   Own   Tour    244 

Camera    Clubs    217,218 

Camera      and      Sketch      Club 

Rambles 275 

Camps    (See   special   index). 

Camp   Fires    273 

Canoe   Building   Club    221 

Clam    Bakes    276 

Cleveland  Rough  Riders 248 

Corn    Roasts    268 

Diary    Club    231 

Election    Day    247 

Evening   Fun    at   Camp    251 

Fencing   Club    225 

Gypsy  Trips    253,  255 

Halloween   Mystery    Rambles..  144 

High    School    10 

Hiking   Clubs    259 

Hustling    Club 177 

Marooning    Parties    250 

Memorial    Day    141 

Morning  Bible  Classes   183 

Nature   Study    260 

Ohio    Gypsies    255 

Out-of-Door    Bible    Study 189 

Overnight   Camping  Parties    ..243 

Overnight    Tramps     256 

Rally   of   Young   People's    So- 
cieties     25 

Rambles    265 

Scouts  of  America,  Boy 281 

Sea    Trip 249 

Seton    Indians     278 

Sight-seeing    Parties    261 

Small    Clubs    228 

Straw    Rides    274 

Surveying    Club    234 

Swimming   Parties    263 

Tramping  Parties 269 

Wigwag  Signal  Corps 266 

PARLOR   TRICKS. 

A  Collection  of  Good  Things  32-40 

Animal   Social    8 

Apple    Social     11 

April  Fool  Social   135 

Blindfold   Boxing  Match    101 

Cottonball    Battle    82 

Easter    Social    136 

Fake   Track   Meet    165 

Fathers'  and  Sons'  Social   7 

Home    Receptions    4 

"Jenkins   Up"    68 

Left-handed    Social    15 

Masquerade      146 

Mock   College  Athletic   Meet    ..63 

Novelty    Socials    19 

Parlor    Field    Meet     118 

Salmagundi     Party     18 


Spelling  Matches    171 

Stunt    Club    126 

"Thumbs    Up"    84 

To   Start   Something    78 

PATRIOTIC. 

Election    Day    247 

Fourth  of  July    142 

Labor  Day 143 

Lincoln's    Birthday    139 

Lincoln    Evening    138 

Memorial    Day    141 

Washington's    Birthday    140 

PHYSICAL. 

Ankle   Throw    94 

Athletic    Outing    161 

Athletic    Supper    164 

Bicycle    Bible    Class    182 

Blindfold    Boxing    Match     101 

Bowling    Club     168 

Busy   Builders'   Club    233 

Catch    Penny     97 

Canoe    Building   Club    221 

Chicago   Social    163 

Cocoa    Spree    162 

Cottonball    Battle    82 

Dog    Fight     87 

Eskimo    Race    79 

Fake  Track   Meet    165 

Fathers'  and  Sons'  Social   7 

Fencing    Club    225 

Finger    Jump     102 

Fire   Department   Athletics    ...167 

Forfeits    107-113 

Greek    Games    160 

Harvest    Exhibition    127 

High   Jump    83 

High    Schools    10 

How  to    Conduct   an  Amateur 

Circus    114 

Indian    Wrestle     96 

Leaders'    Corps     169 

Left-handed    Social    15 

Life    of   the    Physical    Depart- 
ment     159 

Long  Reach,  The 66 

Marooning  Parties   250 

Masquerade   Party    120 

Mock   College  Athletic  Meet    ..63 

Novelty    Socials    19 

Overnight    Tramps     256 

Parlor    Field    Meet    118 

Rooster    Fight     95 

Skin   the    Snake    74 

Small    Clubs    .....228 

Special      Summer     Attractions 

for    Employed    Boys    53 

Standing  Toe   Wrestle    103 

Strength    Test   _ 99 

Swimminsr  Parties    263 

The   Triumph    93 

Three  Tricks  for  Boys    80 

Trampiner    Parties    269 

Volley    Ball    166 


INDEX 


303 


RAILROAD    MEN. 

Christmas     155 

Reunion     17 

Valentine    Social    137 

Yaphank    Whittling    Club    116 

RECEPTIONS. 

College    24 

Committee    Organization    288 

Department    Store   Boys'    48 

Educational    174 

Factory      54 

Fathers'       7 

Fire   Department    167 

High   School    2 

Home  (To  Boys)    4 

Labor    Unions     57 

Ladies     21 

Lincoln's     and     Washington's 

Birthday     139 

Lodges    57 

New    Members'     294 

New    Year's    131 

Paper    Carriers'     50 

President's      1 

University     16 

Young  People's  Societies 52 

RELIGIOUS. 

Animal  Social   8 

Bible   Salad    180 

Bible  Study.     See  Bible  Study. 

Bible  Test    179 

Biblical  Dramas   190 

Bicycle  Bible  Class   182 

Foreign    Work,    "Ching    Lee's 

Compliments"    284 

High       School      Bible      Class 

Social     188 

Junior   Catholic    Knights    242 

Morning   Bible   Class- 183 

Mother's    Dav     287 

Oriental   Research  Club    178 

Out-of-Door    Bible    Study    189 

Paul   Social    184 

President's   Reception    1 

Scripture    Autograph    Social...  185 

Smile  Club 241 

Songs       212,   213,   214 

Thanksgiving     249,250 

To      Organize      Boys'      Bible 

Classes       181 

SOCIALS    FOR   LESS    THAN 
TWENTY. 

"Affirmative,"   The    112 

Ankle    Throw    94 

Art   Gallery    115 

Authors'    Initials    72 

Bible   Salad    180 

Bible  Test   179 


Blindfold    Boxing    Match    101 

Blowing   Candle    113 

Bottle    Balancing    104 

"Buz"    71 

Cane    Walk    91 

Cat    Party    69 

Catch    Penny     97 

Chew   the    String    107 

Coin    and   Card   Snap    92 

Constantinople     108 

Dime    Social    5 

Dog  Fight    87 

Eskimo    Race    79 

Finger  Jump    102 

"Guess"     39 

Gum    Game    36 

Haystack     HO 

Hidden   Flowers    40 

High   Jump    83 

"Hot  Air"    Ill 

Indian  Wrestle   96 

Initials     64 

"Jenkins    Up"     68 

Knights  of  the  Sacred  Whistle   .75 

Long  Reach,  The 66 

Magic    Gift    86 

Men   We   Know    34 

Mind    Reading    61 

Musical    Evening    37 

Musical    Instruments    76 

Nights  of  All  Nations    28 

Noted     Orators     89 

Novelty    Socials    19 

"Observation"     100 

Paul    Social     184 

Penny    Wise    62 

Postcard    Evening    32 

Problems  in  Mathematics    172 

Recognition      67 

Rooster    Fight 95 

Scripture   Autograph   Social    ..185 

Sketches      65 

Skin    the    Snake    74 

"So  Near  and  Yet  So  Far"...  109 

Standing  Toe  Wrestle 103 

Strength    Test     99 

Strength    Test    with    Glass    of 

Water     85 

Telegrams     38 

Think   of  a   Number    73 

Three   Tricks   for   Boys    80 

"Thumbs    Up"    84 

Trick    Matches    105 

Trip    Around   the   World    33 

Triumph,  The    93 

Water  and  Cracker  Race 88 

What    Am    I?    90 

Wild  Animals    77 

Word    Contest     , 35 

SOCIALS    FOR    MORE    THAN 
TWENTY. 

Alice  in   Wonderland    121 

Apple   Social    -11 

April  Fool  Social   135 

Art    Gallery    115 


304 


INDEX 


Authors'    Initials    -£2 

Bible   Salad    }°" 

Bible    Test     "J 

Cat    Party    isj'isl 

Christmas 'I? 

Cottonball    Battle     -^ 

County    Fair    X1* 

Dime  Social  •••••• \jc 

Educational    Social    x'-i 

Election   Night    }*" 

Fake   Track   Meet    J" 

Halloween    xj" 

Initials     •  •  •  •.  •  • ^ 

International    Social    •  j> 

"Tenkins   Up"    ••.••.••;, :°2 

"Timtown     Imposition       |" 

"John   Brown's   Body      ™6 

Labor    Day    Social    i™ 

Left-handed    Social    •  " 

Lincoln    Evening    "e 

Loan  Exhibits,  etc \~* 

Masquerade   Party    |^u 

Memorial    Day    ^ 

Moving    Pictures    ^ 

Novelty    Socials    •  ™ 

"Observation"      1U" 

Palm   Social   •  •  * 

Paul    Social    1»J 

Penny    Wise    °£ 

Press    Social •  ° 

Railway    Social     \> 

Recognition      !?i 

Salmagundi     Party ° 

"Saturday    Nighters       •••.•:■•■:" 
Scripture  Autograph    Social    .  .  iss 

Sketches    •" 

Snowball    Party    ij>J 

Spelling    Match    -j  •  •    71 

Thanksgiving      14*>  "" 

"Thumbs    Up"    °* 

To   Start   Something    '» 

Trade    Receptions     ■W 

Trip  to  the  Moon    \f 

ITncle   Sam    Evening    1^ 

Valentine    Social {£' 

With  the  Y.  W.   C.   A 151 

SOCIALS     INCLUDING 
LADIES. 

High      School      Bible      Class 

Socials     "•:v"l?S 

High  School  Boys  and  Girls   .257 

New    Year's     131 

Palm    Social    •  ^ 

Reception      ^  * 

Salmagundi     Party     • )° 

Trip    to   the    Moon    ij> 

Valentine  Social    . . .  •  ■ \\\ 

With  the  Y.  W.   C.   A.    ......151 

Young'    People's    Societies    25,  5Z 


SONGS  AND  YELLS. 

'Alouette"      •••••. ^'"211 

"A  Mother  Was  Chasing  Her 

Boy"      • fS* 

"Boys  of  Washington 19- 

Cleveland  Songs  and  Yells.... 205 

"Dixie"      • \*.\ 

Educational  Department  Song  195 

Evening  Service    •••••,-, *Az 

"E  Yip  I  Addy  I  Ay"    . .. .. ..  -199 

Gym    Songs     .191 

"InartheanGood  '  Old  '  Camping 

Time"    206 

"John  Brown's  Body"  -■-;,• -\Gn\ 
"June,    July    and^ Augustine    ..203 

Leaders'    Camp    Song 208 

Morning  Bible  Study  Song  ..212 
N.    J.    Songs    and    YeUs^  ^  ^ 

New  Jersey  State  Song      196 

Silver  Bay,  Association  Song  210 
"Skedaddle  to  Schenectady  198 
"Smile   Whene'er    You    Can    ..209 

"Taps"    207 

"Tin  Dooley"    VViii 

Washington    Songs    and    Yens  ^ 

Wawayanda    Grace 213 

"We've    Been    Up    to    Wawa- 

yanda"     t^i 

Willie's  Billy   Goat    201 

SUMMER    AND    OUTDOOR 
AFFAIRS. 

Agricultural    Club    220 

Athletic    Outing    ^i 

Audubon    Society     ^« 

Bicycle   Bible   Class    ^ 

Book    Club *f 

Boys'   Own  Tour 244 

Busy  Builders'  Club    X^'f.l 

Camera    Clubs    217,  218 

Canoeing     •••••••••■  VV,"  '  0<iA 

"Ching    Lee's    Compliments    ..284 

Cleveland    Rough   Riders    248 

Election  Day    Outing    247 

Fake   Track   Meet    165 

Fencing    Club     ocelli 

Cvosv   Trips        25o.  <2jj 

Halloween     Mvstery     Ramble    .144 
High    School    Boys   and    Girls 

Out-of-Doors     &y 

Hustling  Club   l// 

Y.  P.  S.  &  Y.  W.  C.  A. 

Rallv  of  Y.   P.  S.    25 

Y.    P.    S.    Reception    •" 

With  Y.  W.   C.  A 151 


